By Benjamin Cox on June 3, 2021 at 10:03am
Lawyers for four individuals tied to the Commmonwealth Edison federal bribery case have asked for charges to be dismissed. The lawyers representing Michael McClain of Quincy Anne Pramaggiore, John Hooker and Jay Doherty asked U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber to toss several of the key elements of the case, including allegations of bribery conspiracy involving jobs doled out by ComEd to associates of former House Speaker Michael Madigan.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the lawyers claim there was no quid pro quo with Madigan to help pass favorable legislation in the Illinois General Assembly. The filing argues that the U.S. attorney’s office has improperly used the federal bribery statute to criminalize job recommendations forwarded by Madigan to ComEd officials. The lawyers have called the job recommendations a routine practice within the bounds of normal spoils system-type politics.
I’m thinking the Blago defense isn’t that good of an idea…just sayin.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 9:53 am:
I think they may be thinking of the McDonnell case out of Virginia, in which the Supreme Court unanimously overturned former governor’s public-corruption conviction.
The court imposed higher standards for federal prosecutors who charge public officials with wrongdoing, saying that prosecutors have to tie gifts to a specific “official act”.
With tons of evidence with reams of paper trail, tapped phones, email communications from the ‘Fantastic 4,’ I don’t they will be able to use the (former VA gov.) McDonnell case as ruled by the U.S. Supremes. Especially in light of Tim Mapes indictment in which he was not a party to the ‘Fab 4.’
Lawyers for the four close to Michael Madigan say their indictment fails to allege a necessary "quid pro quo." Instead, they argue it "loosely strings together an assortment of events over a ten-year period of time."
Nearly 50 legislators identifying as the Illinois Legislative Green Caucus signed a letter Wednesday asking leadership to make equity and utility accountability the foundation of an energy overhaul bill expected