One of the U.S. government’s cooperating witnesses, former ComEd executive Fidel Marquez, has resumed direct testimony at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain.
On Thursday morning in Chicago, Marquez discussed ComEd’s dealings with the Reyes Kurson law firm. Reyes Kurson partner Victor Reyes was one of Madigan’s longtime associates. Prosecutors introduced emails between Marquez and McClain in which McClain pushed for ComEd to make sure the utility company kept up an agreed-upon number of hours for Reyes Kurson to provide work for ComEd.
In one email, McClain wrote to Marquez, “I am sure you know how valuable Victor is to our friend.” Marquez confirmed that “our friend” referred to Madigan.
Marquez testified that the Illinois General Assembly was considering legislation that affected ComEd during the time when several of the emails were sent. Marquez also began testifying about ComEd board appointee Juan Ochoa when Judge John Robert Blakey called for a morning break. The pause occurred just 50 minutes after the jury was seated.
Last month, former ComEd Senior Vice President and general counsel Tom O’Neill testified that Madigan recommended Ochoa for a position on ComEd’s board of directors in 2017. At the time, Ochoa was CEO of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, also known as McPier.
McPier owns Chicago’s Navy Pier, McCormick Place and the McCormick Square campus, which includes Wintrust Arena. McPier was created by the Illinois General Assembly.
O’Neill testified that he expressed reservations about Ochoa to then-ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, but Ochoa was appointed to the ComEd board in 2019.
Prosecutor Amar Bhachu said Thursday morning that he expected direct testimony from Marquez to continue for most of the day. Cross examination by defense attorneys would follow direct testimony.
Madigan and McClain are charged with 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct in what federal prosecutors say was a nearly decade-long bribery scheme between Madigan, his allies and ComEd.
ComEd agreed to pay $200 million in July 2020 to resolve a criminal investigation into the years-long bribery scheme. As part of a deferred prosecution agreement, ComEd admitted it arranged $1.3 million in jobs, vendor subcontracts and payments to influence Madigan on legislation favorable to the utility. AT&T Illinois agreed to pay $23 million as part of its own deferred prosecution agreement in 2022.
Madigan was a state representative from 1971 to 2021. He served as speaker of the Illinois House for all but two years between 1983 and 2021. Madigan also chaired the Democratic Party of Illinois for 23 years.
McClain is a former Illinois state representative and lobbyist.
