Testimony that has unfolded in a Chicago federal courtroom over the past two weeks in the 'ComEd Four' trial has offered a fascinating — and unprecedented — look into the closely guarded inner workings of Michael Madigan’s political might.
Former Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan departs from his lawyers' office, March 9, 2022, after making his first virtual court appearance for his indictment.
“I understand we have a lot of people walking around trying to find things to complain about, but every once in a while the speaker gets to do what he wants to do,” Madigan told his inner circle in one secretly recorded call from December 2018, which was played in court last week. The defense has argued that what prosecutors say was bribery was actually nothing more than honest, legal political lobbying, and that there was no evidence Madigan did anything to directly help ComEd in exchange for benefits that flowed to his cronies.
Prosecutors also alleged that ComEd agreed to hire and then renew a contract for the Reyes Kurson law firm, headed by longtime Madigan associate Victor Reyes, to curry favor with the speaker. But Cousineau cut a far different profile in court last week, where he appeared uncomfortable on the witness stand and spoke so softly that prosecutors repeatedly told him to speak up.
Cousineau’s testimony describing Madigan’s backroom muscle illustrated the deft political jujitsu that a politician can perform outside of the public view to whip up votes from other lawmakers in order to pass a bill that he actually did not vote upon himself. “Yes, I mean, this was a big vote, but there are plenty of big votes that we took,” Cousineau said. When asked if he felt he’d done anything illegal, Cousineau answered, “No, sir.
Once Cousineau left Madigan’s office to become a lobbyist, they spoke with the fondness and respect of a mentor giving his star protege sage advice, a point underscored by a secret recording of their call on April 11, 2018 — only weeks after billionaire J.B. Pritzker won the Democratic primary to take on Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, Madigan’s nemesis.
Instead, Cousineau went to Cornerstone Government Affairs, based in Washington, where he signed up as a contract lobbyist for ComEd, part of a growing list of clients eager to pay to have a guy so well connected to Madigan on their side.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Chicago's Djunah meld poetry and hard rock to power up Femina Furens - Chicago ReaderOn their latest record, Djunah’s controlled ferociousness catapults nuanced points about autonomy and feminine power come to the fore.
Read more »
Man robbed four Cleveland dollar stores, bank in four-day span, feds sayReginald Wimberly Jr, 23, robbed three Dollar General stores from noon to 6 p.m. on Dec. 27, according to court and police records.
Read more »
Charted: Final Four breakthroughFour out of the eight programs playing in the Elite Eight will have an opportunity to go to the Final Four for the first time in school history.
Read more »
Pivot: TikTok’s Testimony, and Google’s Bard Release on Apple PodcastsA House committee grilled TikTok CEO Shou Chew, taking issue with everything from the app’s safety and privacy to its ownership. karaswisher reacts. Listen to pivotpod:
Read more »
Alaska regulators hear testimony on ConocoPhillips’ 2022 Alpine gas leakWhile ConocoPhillips faces national scrutiny over a future Arctic oil drilling site known as Willow, state regulators took testimony Thursday about an uncontrolled natural gas leak last year at Alpine, an oilfield about 30 miles away.
Read more »
Move Aside, Elle Woods … Gwyneth Paltrow Has ArrivedHer testimony in the ski accident trial was, like, totally great television.
Read more »