Grundy Reporter

The trial of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has reached its third month at the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago. Federal prosecutors have presented several witnesses over the past eight weeks to support their allegations of racketeering and bribery conspiracy against the former political leader. The witness list includes local, state, and federal elected officials, as well as family members and business leaders.

A significant development in the trial was the testimony of former Chicago Alderman Danny Solis. Solis spent 21 hours on the stand over six days. During his tenure as Chairman of the City of Chicago’s Zoning Committee, he recorded conversations with Madigan in which business was solicited for Madigan's law firm.

Madigan was charged in March 2022 with 23 counts, including racketeering, bribery, and official misconduct. These charges relate to an alleged bribery scheme involving Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), Illinois' largest utility company. Madigan served in the Illinois House from 1971 until 2021, holding the position of Speaker for nearly all that time.

In response to these events, Senate Republicans have proposed legislation aimed at comprehensive ethics reforms to prevent similar abuses in the future. The trial is expected to continue into next year.