East Central Reporter

Jurors in the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan have been presented with wiretap evidence, including conversations involving Michael McClain, a key figure in the case. The recordings were part of testimony from Fidel Marquez, a former ComEd executive who became an FBI informant. Marquez's recordings included discussions with McClain about subcontractor arrangements that prosecutors allege were bribes.

In one recording, McClain described these arrangements as favors to maintain Madigan's satisfaction. Attorneys for Madigan attempted to distance him from McClain through cross-examination of Marquez. However, additional intercepted phone calls played for the jury on Thursday sought to challenge this defense.

A conversation from February 2019 between McClain and John Hooker, another former ComEd lobbyist, revealed that the subcontractor arrangement began in 2011 with an individual named Olivo. By then, Doherty had paid several Madigan allies under his contract. "We had to hire these guys because Mike Madigan came to us," McClain told Hooker. He added that if necessary, they could take it to federal court.

In other news related to Illinois legislation, a federal court has struck down the state's firearms ban enacted by the Democrat-controlled General Assembly in 2023. Judge Stephen McGlynn ruled that the law violated both the Second and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. His decision included a permanent injunction against enforcing the ban.

The law known as the "Protect Illinois Communities Act" aimed to restrict private possession of certain semi-automatic firearms labeled as "assault weapons." Plaintiffs opposed this measure and sought judicial intervention based on constitutional rights. Supporters of the law have appealed Judge McGlynn’s decision to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Efforts to protect Illinois' Mahomet Aquifer faced setbacks when Senate Democrats blocked consideration of a protective measure during Veto Session this week. The aquifer serves as a critical water source for central and east-central Illinois residents and industries.

Republican Representative Brandun Schweizer has been leading efforts in the Illinois House with House Bill 5870 aimed at safeguarding this resource by prohibiting harmful activities around it. Despite bipartisan support for similar Senate Bill 3968 filed later, both measures remain stalled due to opposition from Democratic leadership within their respective chambers.