The jury in Michael Madigan’s corruption trial has heard many nicknames given to the highly effective Democratic Home Speaker, from the apparent, like “MJM” or “Mr. Speaker,” to the extra esoteric, reminiscent of “Himself” and “our Good friend.”
On Monday they heard a brand new one: “Sphinx.”
That was the moniker utilized to Madigan by some members of JB Pritzker’s staff after Pritzker’s election in 2018, in keeping with U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ailing., who was a prime Pritzker aide earlier than her election to Congress in 2022.
The nickname, a reference to the legendary determine of Egyptian pharaohs usually used to convey energy and ferocity — and in trendy instances to recommend somebody might be onerous to learn — was utilized in an e-mail proven throughout Budzinski’s testimony referencing a job suggestion from Madigan for Pritzker’s new administration.
“Connected is the latest Sphinx listing of suggestions forward of your assembly immediately,” learn the Dec. 4, 2018, e-mail, despatched from Budzinski to Pritzker and his soon-to-be chief of workers, Anne Caprara. “We’ve got famous these in our course of and they’re coming through our portal.”
It’s not the primary time Madigan was known as Sphinx in political circles. Actually, a number of the speaker’s personal associates and colleagues generally referred to as him “the Sphinx from Pulaski Highway,” a nod to his thirteenth Ward headquarters at sixty fifth and Pulaski.
However Budzinski’s testimony was the primary the jury had heard of it. And whereas she confirmed that “Sphinx” was a reference to Madigan, she couldn’t clarify why.
On cross examination, Madigan’s lawyer Lari Dierks requested if the “Sphinx” nickname was a part of the “delusion” of Madigan in Springfield.
“I can’t actually communicate to that. It wasn’t my nickname,” Budzinski testified.
The picture of Madigan, a famously Irish Southwest Sider, as a monumental desert colossus with the pinnacle of a human, physique of a lion and wings of an eagle introduced some levity to an in any other case fast, cut-and-dried day of testimony in Madigan’s trial, which is now in its tenth week.
U.S. District Choose John Robert Blakey recessed the trial for the day after solely an hour in order that the events may attend providers for longtime U.S. seventh Circuit of Appeals Choose Joel Flaum, who died final week at age 88.
Testimony resumes Tuesday morning. Prosecutors have stated they might relaxation their case in chief subsequent week.
Madigan, 82, of Chicago, who served for many years as speaker of the Illinois Home and the pinnacle of the state Democratic Social gathering, faces racketeering costs alleging he ran his state and political operations like a felony enterprise.
He’s charged alongside his longtime confidant Michael McClain, 77, a former ComEd contract lobbyist from downstate Quincy. Each males have pleaded not responsible and denied wrongdoing.
Budzinski, a Springfield Democrat elected to the U.S. Home final 12 months, was senior adviser to Pritzker in his 2018 marketing campaign to unseat Gov. Bruce Rauner and later was a key aide in Pritzker’s new administration.
When she took the stand Monday, Assistant U.S. Legal professional Amarjeet Bhachu requested her, “While you’re not testifying in federal court docket, are you able to inform the jury what’s your day job?”
“I’m a United States consultant,” she stated. “I signify the thirteenth District of Illinois in Congress.”
After Pritzker was elected in 2018, Budzinski turned the manager director of the transition committee, serving to to “choose, interview and rent a variety of people into state authorities and for boards and commissions.” Pritzker had the ultimate say on any hires, Budzinski stated.
The transition staff arrange a authorities portal the place any candidates had to enroll, Budzinski stated. Different candidates got here by way of LinkedIn and different social media. Additionally they took suggestions from elected officers and others in authorities.
Budzinski stated she was conscious that Madigan had been “a legislative chief for a really very long time” and that they gave “severe consideration” to any job suggestion that got here from him. However she stated suggestions from any of 4 legislative leaders have been under no circumstances a slam dunk.
“We had a number of due diligence,” Budzinski stated. “We actually took it very severe to vet each single candidate that was advisable.”
Jurors have been proven one e-mail from Budzinski to different Pritzker transition workers saying they’d a resume from a man from New York searching for a place with the Illinois Division of Transportation that “ought to have MJM on it.”
“We have to name him at the least and maybe possibly think about him for quantity two spot,” Budzinski wrote.
In keeping with the indictment, one in every of Madigan’s suggestions was then-Ald. Daniel Solis, who was working undercover for federal investigators and requested Madigan to assist him get a state board place in Pritzker’s administration as a part of an FBI ruse.
Jurors have beforehand watched undercover video during which Solis requested Madigan for assist getting on a state board that paid at the least $100,000, together with both the Labor Relations Board or the Illinois Commerce Fee.
Prosecutors have additionally introduced proof that Madigan despatched Solis details about state boards and commissions in response.
The indictment in opposition to Madigan alleges he sat down with Pritzker in December 2018 and talked about Solis as a candidate for a board seat.
However Budzinski was not requested particularly about Solis in her testimony, which lasted solely about half-hour.
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com
