Former Illinois Home Speaker Michael J. Madigan’s son made $43,000 in three years after his insurance coverage firm landed a Pilsen social service company as a shopper, jurors had been instructed Wednesday, in a deal federal prosecutors have linked to Madigan’s alleged racketeering conspiracy.
It’s the primary time prosecutors have particularly alleged that Andrew Madigan profited from the scheme outlined in Michael Madigan’s sweeping 117-page indictment. Now, the Southwest Aspect Democrat’s son has been added to a roster of beneficiaries jurors have heard about in a trial that has lasted two months.
There are indicators that the trial might be nearing a conclusion, although. Assistant U.S. Legal professional Amarjeet Bhachu instructed the decide Wednesday that prosecutors might relaxation their case in opposition to Michael Madigan as quickly as subsequent week. Whether or not the trial then stretches into January might rely on protection attorneys, who may have an opportunity to current their very own proof subsequent.
Earlier than that occurs, Bhachu disclosed that the remaining witnesses might embody U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, a Downstate Democrat. The sitting member of Congress is a former aide to Gov. JB Pritzker. The feds have lengthy mentioned they deliberate to name on two members of his workers, and testimony Wednesday prompt Budzinski is considered one of them.
Michael Madigan, who resigned from workplace in 2021, is accused of main a felony enterprise designed to boost his political energy and reward his allies. His longtime affiliate, Michael McClain, is on trial alongside him and is accused of performing as an agent of the enterprise.
Others who’ve allegedly benefitted from it embody former Alds. Frank Olivo and Michael R. Zalewski, former Cook dinner County Recorder of Deeds Edward Moody, former state Rep. Edward “Eddie” Acevedo, longtime Michael Madigan marketing campaign employee Raymond Good, political operative Victor Reyes and businessman Juan Ochoa.
Solely Acevedo has been charged, serving a six-month jail sentence in a spin-off tax evasion prosecution. Likewise, Andrew Madigan has not been accused of wrongdoing. He couldn’t be reached for remark Wednesday.
The day’s developments revolved round considered one of 5 schemes outlined in Madigan’s indictment. It allegedly occurred in 2018 and early 2019 and concerned then-Chicago Ald. Danny Solis, who was the Metropolis Council’s Zoning Committee chair on the time.
‘There’s one factor you are able to do’
Prosecutors say Michael Madigan took benefit of Solis’ place to steer work to his non-public tax appeals legislation agency, Madigan & Getzendanner.
However Solis was secretly sporting a wire for the FBI. Jurors have heard how, on June 20, 2018, Solis requested for Michael Madigan’s assist touchdown a paid seat on a authorities board as a part of an FBI ruse. Quickly after Solis made his request, Michael Madigan requested for Solis’ assist connecting with the developer of Chicago’s Previous Submit Workplace, which straddles the Eisenhower Expressway.
Throughout a follow-up dialog in regards to the board seat on Aug. 2, 2018, Solis promised the speaker “I’m gonna aid you.” Michael Madigan replied, “don’t fear about it.”
However moments later, Michael Madigan instructed him, “there’s one factor you are able to do.”
Holding up a enterprise card, he mentioned, “you bought Andrew a gathering with, is it?”
Solis mentioned, “The Resurrection Venture.”
It was a enterprise card for Andrew Madigan at Alliant/Mesirow Insurance coverage Companies. The identify of the not-for-profit “Resurrection Venture” was written on the again.
“And after the assembly, you recognize, Andrew tried to comply with up. And by no means … by no means acquired returned calls,” Michael Madigan mentioned.
Solis promised to achieve out.
“Simply ask him, ‘Give Andrew one thing … Give him an opportunity to indicate what he, what he can do,’” Michael Madigan mentioned.
Michael Madigan, middle, is sworn in as state Home speaker by Illinois Appellate Courtr Choose Alan J. Greiman as Madigan’s household stands by his facet at in Springfield in 2007. From left are daughter Lisa Madigan, son Andrew Madigan, daughter Nicole Madigan and spouse, Shirley Madigan.
Justin L. Fowler/State Journal-Register by way of AP
In a follow-up name the subsequent day, Solis instructed Michael Madigan he had spoken to a consultant of the group.
“He’ll arrange a gathering with Andy, and I’ll be there,” Solis mentioned.
On Wednesday, prosecutors referred to as Alliant Insurance coverage govt Jennifer Gavelek to the witness stand. She testified that she’d attended a gathering along with her colleague, Andrew Madigan, and an govt with The Resurrection Venture in October 2019.
On account of that assembly, she mentioned, Alliant signed the company up as a shopper.
Gavelek additionally walked by means of a chart with Bhachu that primarily recognized Andrew Madigan because the “finder” of The Resurrection Venture’s insurance coverage coverage. She mentioned it indicated that Andrew Madigan made $43,000 between 2019 and 2021 on account of the deal.
She additionally mentioned his funds have continued within the years since.
Congresswoman Budzinski to testify
In the meantime, Solis linked Michael Madigan with Previous Submit Workplace developer Harry Skydell, who instructed Michael Madigan on Sept. 4, 2018, that he’d be pleased to start a enterprise relationship with Madigan & Getzendanner.
Nonetheless, the alleged scheme was interrupted in January 2019 when the Chicago Solar-Occasions revealed that Solis had been making undercover recordings for the FBI. He by no means landed on a state board seat.
Jurors nonetheless heard Wednesday how Michael Madigan continued to make board suggestions to Pritzker by means of July 2019, although. The speaker’s former chief of workers, Jessica Basham, testified about emails and memos during which she handed the suggestions on to Budzinski and Anne Caprara, Pritzker’s chief of workers.
Bhachu instructed the decide that he anticipated Budzinski to testify Monday morning, and he defined that prosecutors have tried to schedule her testimony round votes in Congress.
A Springfield Democrat, she was first elected to the thirteenth Congressional District seat in 2022.
