Galesburg Reporter

Sen. Neil Anderson issued a statement on his Facebook page on May 2 regarding the verdict in the ComEd trial.

The ComEd four were accused of bribery and conspiracy and were found guilty on all accounts.

"For years politicians have gotten away with backroom for-profit deals at the expense of special interest and politically connected groups," Anderson wrote. 

The trial of the Com Ed Four, as it is known, wrapped with a jury verdict on May 2, after 5 days of jury deliberation, according to NBC Chicago 5. All four defendants in this trial, "former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and former ComEd consultant Jay Doherty. All pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including bribery conspiracy, and all four were found guilty on all counts."

NBC Chicago 5 provided a detailed breakdown of the trial's outcome by outlining the charges against each defendant. 

Anne Pramaggiore, the former ComEd CEO from 2012-2018, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy, four counts of public corruption, and four counts of falsifying accounting books and other records. John Hooker, a former ComEd lobbyist, was convicted of conspiracy, one count of bribery, and four counts of falsifying accounting books and other records. Jay Doherty, a company consultant, was found guilty of a single count of conspiracy, one count of bribery, and four counts of falsifying accounting books and other records. Michel McClain, a lobbyist and confidant of Michael Madigan, was convicted of conspiracy, four counts of bribery, and four counts of falsifying accounting books and other records. McClain is expected to face a separate racketeering trial.

"Today’s verdict shows that nobody is above the law and is a clear indication that our state’s ethical system needs to be overhauled," Anderson said. "It’s time to enact real reforms to restore the public’s trust in our state’s government by confronting the culture of corruption in Springfield that has gone unchecked for decades."

U.S. Department of Justice indictment charged Michael Madigan, the former House Speaker of Illinois on Mar. 2, claiming he used his political positions and influence to further the goals of a criminal organization and generate income for himself and his associates.

He was charged with 22 counts of racketeering and bribery. The indictment alleges that Madigan led a criminal enterprise for nearly ten years, with the aim of enhancing his political power and financial gain while also benefiting his associates and allies. The charges assert that Madigan used his various positions, including as a Representative of Illinois's 22nd District, Committeeman for Chicago's 13th Ward, Chairman of both the Illinois Democratic Party and the 13th Ward Democratic Organization, and partner at the Chicago law firm of Madigan & Getzendanner, to further the objectives of the criminal organization. The indictment claims that Madigan directed his close friend and co-defendant, Michael F. McClain, to carry out illegal activities, including causing businesses like Commonwealth Edison to make monetary payments to Madigan's associates as a reward for their loyalty, sometimes in exchange for little or no legitimate work.

According to an article in the Chicago Sun-Times on Jan. 9  former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's trial on charges of racketeering has been scheduled for April 2024. 

The trial is expected to last six to seven weeks and will be held at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse. Madigan and his longtime confidant, Michael McClain, were indicted by a federal grand jury nearly a year prior. The trial is being touted as the biggest public corruption trial since former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's trials. The charges against Madigan and McClain were expanded in October to include allegations that they conspired with former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza to pay $22,500 to "former state Rep. Edward Acevedo amid an attempt to influence Madigan in favor of the company."