Feds say members of Madigan’s inner circle weren’t ‘merely’ lobbying

Federal prosecutors argued Monday that a bid from four members of ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan’s inner circle to convince a judge to toss part of the indictment filed against them ignores the alleged corruption at the heart of the case.

“The illegal conduct alleged in the indictment did not consist merely of lobbying, and it did not include campaign contributions made by ComEd,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu wrote in a new 74-page court filing.

Instead, Bhachu wrote, the four allegedly delivered benefits to Madigan’s associates with the hope Madigan “would give favorable treatment to ComEd legislation” — an arrangement that could be understood as a quid pro quo.

It amounted to the latest volley in the high-stakes public corruption case swirling around Madigan, who has not been criminally charged and denies wrongdoing. A grand jury leveled charges in November against Madigan confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, onetime ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and ex-City Club President Jay Doherty.

Meanwhile, court filings have identified Madigan only as “Public Official A.”

The 50-page indictment accused the four members of Madigan’s inner-circle of a long-term bribery scheme designed to curry favor with Madigan. All four have pleaded not guilty. U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber last week scheduled their trial for Sept. 12, 2022.