As ComEd’s lead external lobbyist for years, McClain took Madigan’s job recommendations and referred them to leaders at the utility for consideration. McClain’s attorney Pat Cotter characterized the efforts as merely “favors” in closing arguments this week, which are allowed in the practice of lobbying.

The jury began their first full day of deliberations on Thursday - 14-and-a-half weeks after being seated in former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's federal bribery and racketeering trial.

Jurors heard almost 150 secret recordings in Madigan’s trial, including phone calls with co-defendant Michael McClain and conversations with government mole Danny Solis.

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s fate is officially in the hands of a federal jury after week-long closing arguments in his federal corruption trial wrapped Wednesday afternoon.

After more than three months, the fate of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is now in the hands of a jury.

Jury deliberations finally got underway Wednesday afternoon in the landmark corruption trial of powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan after six days of closing arguments.

A federal jury began deliberations Wednesday afternoon in the trial of Michael Madigan, the former Illinois House speaker charged with several counts of corruption, bribery and racketeering.

Real estate lawyer Michael Madigan, a lawmaker for 50 years, is accused of using ComEd as his “personal piggy bank.”

Madigan faces a 23-count indictment in federal court, charging him with racketeering conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, and attempted extortion.

The investigation that led to Michael Madigan’s indictment changed the course of Chicago history. It also prompted a historic trial at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse that began in October and gave jurors a front-row seat to raw Illinois politics as it was practiced in the previous decade.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The government has their rebuttal next on co-defendant Michael McClain's defense in former IL Speaker Mike Madigan corruption trial on Wednesday. McClain's defense attorney Patrick Cotter gave closing arguments on Tuesday.