Judge throws ice on Madigan's 'job recommendations' defense

(The Center Square) – Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has defended himself for the past four years, saying that he was only doing his job and that part of that job was making job recommendations.

Madigan, who held sway over the Illinois statehouse as leader of the Democratic Party and speaker of the House for decades, argued in motions that the judge should toss the racketeering and bribery charges against him because he was performing his job.

Judge John Robert Blakey said that wasn't a reason to cut counts from the 23-count indictment days before Madigan's corruption trial gets underway. Co-defendant Michael McClain, a former state lawmaker, lobbyist and close associate of Madigan, also sought to have some charges dismissed ahead of trial.

"Defendants' attempt to characterize the allegations in the indictment as mere job recommendations falls short," the judge wrote in his latest order. "The indictment alleges that Defendants conspired to utilize Madigan's role to affect legislation in exchange for certain entities' hiring his associates to private sector roles."

The judge added: "These allegations remain a far cry from Defendants' examples of politicians who simply made job recommendations while in office."

When federal prosecutors indicted Madigan and McClain in 2022, Madigan said he was doing his job.

"The government is attempting to criminalize a routine constituent service: job recommendations. That is not illegal, and these other charges are equally unfounded," Madigan said in a statement at the time. "Throughout my 50 years as a public servant, I worked to address the needs of my constituents, always keeping in mind the high standards required and the trust the public placed in me. I adamantly deny these accusations and look back proudly on my time as an elected official, serving the people of Illinois."

Madigan served in the Illinois House from 1971 to 2021, as speaker from 1983 to 1995 and again from 1997 to 2021. That made him one of the state's most powerful politicians, especially given his role as head of the Democratic party in the state. He faces 23 counts of racketeering, bribery, and official misconduct as part of a federal indictment. Madigan has pleaded not guilty.

In March 2022, Madigan and now convicted former lawmaker and lobbyist Michael McClain were charged with 22 counts of racketeering and bribery for his alleged improper dealings with the state's largest utility, ComEd. A jury convicted McClain in a separate but related corruption trial of the so-called ComEd 4 in May 2023.

Prosecutors further allege that Madigan used his political power to unlawfully steer business to his private law firm, Madigan & Getzendanner. In October 2022, prosecutors filed a superseding indictment that charged Madigan and McClain with conspiracy related to an alleged corruption scheme involving AT&T Illinois.

The judge's rulings clear the way for the state's highest-profile corruption trial in years to begin with jury selection at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, in Courtroom 1203 at the Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse in Chicago.