A longtime high precinct captain for ex-Illinois Home Speaker Michael J. Madigan testified Wednesday that Madigan organized for him to be paid lots of of hundreds of {dollars} in order that he’d maintain campaigning for Illinois Democrats — and to do little else.
Now Madigan is on trial. Jurors know the cash all got here from ComEd. And longtime Madigan door-knocker Ed Moody stated the deal boiled all the way down to this: “Do the political work, maintain the contract. Don’t do political work, don’t maintain the contract.”
However Moody additionally discovered himself being questioned for the primary time by one in every of Madigan’s protection attorneys. Tom Breen examined Moody’s interpretation of occasions, insisting that, “Mr. Madigan by no means advised you he’d get you a no-work, no-show job, right?”
Moody agreed however nonetheless delivered damaging testimony within the racketeering conspiracy trial of Madigan and his longtime ally, Michael McClain. Prosecutors say ComEd paid $1.3 million to Moody and 4 different Madigan allies so the Southwest Aspect Democrat would look favorably upon the utility’s laws.
Moody is the one one of many 5 recipients that jurors are anticipated to listen to from. When he took the witness stand Wednesday, he shortly acknowledged that he was paid $354,000 between 2012 and 2018, however he did little extra work to earn that cash.
He stated Madigan advised him, “That is how I reward my good troopers.”
Madigan resigned in 2021 and is accused of main a felony enterprise designed to boost his political energy and profit his allies. McClain allegedly acted as his agent. The claims concerning ComEd are one key pillar of the case — however prosecutors appear to be almost completed displaying jurors the proof associated to it.
That proof fashioned the idea of final 12 months’s ComEd bribery trial, which ended with the conviction of McClain and three others. Moody additionally testified then, and his commentary Wednesday appeared to largely mirror what he’d stated in 2023.
Madigan’s attorneys obtained their first likelihood on Wednesday to cross-examine Moody, who stated he secured an “immunity letter” from prosecutors. Cross-examination is predicted to proceed Thursday.
Moody, 60, is a former Prepare dinner County commissioner and recorder of deeds. In his youthful days, he preferred strolling, serving to individuals and politics. He advised jurors Wednesday that working for Madigan’s thirteenth Ward political group gave him the prospect to do all three.
He and his twin brother knocked on a lot of doorways for Illinois Democrats. Moody stated that ultimately helped him land jobs working for the Prepare dinner County Freeway Division and the Prepare dinner County Circuit Courtroom.
“I completely beloved it,” Moody stated of his campaigning for Madigan. He known as it a “privilege” to be invited into constituents’ houses and “be handled like household” as he inspired them to vote in lockstep with pattern ballots he handed them.
After serving to win a 1992 state Home election by flipping Republican precincts in Orland Park, Moody stated Madigan praised the brothers.
“We had been off the charts,” Moody stated Madigan advised them. “We did rather well.”
Madigan helped Moody safe a $40,000-a-year job on the courthouse in Bridgeview, Moody testified. He stated he couldn’t recall if he needed to submit an utility, and stated he didn’t actually should interview.
Assistant U.S. Lawyer Diane MacArthur requested Moody on Wednesday if he felt there was a connection between the courthouse job and his political work with Madigan. Moody advised her, “Nicely, he obtained me the job.”
Moody stated that additionally got here with stress to proceed to do political work and carry out at a excessive degree, although.
Finally, Moody turned to Madigan once more round 2011. He stated he advised the speaker that “though I had a pension, I hadn’t saved sufficient cash for retirement,” and he hoped to make an additional $45,000 a 12 months.
The speaker didn’t reply, Moody stated.
That left Moody “damage” and “offended,” he stated, and he wound up having one other “very intense” assembly with Madigan, joined by his brother. That led to an encounter in a hallway, the place Moody stated Madigan “barked out” that “You’ll be working for McClain.”
Moody additionally stated Madigan defined that, “if I ended doing what it’s I’m doing, I’m going to lose my contract.”
Breen later challenged Moody on that occasion.
“You advised us you had been offended,” Breen reminded him on cross-examination. “… You demanded a job from Mr. Madigan, and should you didn’t get it, you couldn’t do any extra political work for him?”
“I by no means stated that,” Moody countered.
“[Madigan] would have each motive to consider that you’d present up, do glorious work, and proceed on as you had at Bridgeview?” Breen insisted.
Prosecutors objected, and Moody didn’t get an opportunity to reply.
As a part of his cope with McClain, Moody stated he made one spherical of cellphone calls to state lawmakers every month — a job that took him a complete hour. Between January and April 2013, he stated he additionally made a canvassing effort on behalf of ComEd.
Then, the association modified. Moody’s cash started to circulate as a substitute by means of then-Metropolis Membership President Jay Doherty, after which by means of companies belonging to Shaw Decremer and John Bradley, who even have ties to Madigan. Jurors have beforehand been advised that each one the cash originated with ComEd.
Not like with McClain, Moody stated he did no work in any respect for the others. He additionally stated that, when the association first started, McClain advised him it was “one hell of a plum.
“And I owe the speaker massive.”
Contributing: Dave McKinney
