Former Illinois Home Speaker Michael Madigan’s longtime legislation agency
companion Vincent “Bud” Getzendanner testified in Madigan’s protection towards
quite a few federal fees final week.
One of many primary themes of Getzendanner’s testimony was the
property tax agency’s strategy of removing shoppers and potential shoppers who
may pose a battle of curiosity to Madigan.
Getzendanner testified “there can be a gathering a few times a
yr involving Madigan’s Statehouse authorized workers relating to Madigan &
Getzendanner shoppers,” Solar-Instances reporter Jon Seidel reported from the
courtroom. Getzendanner would additionally periodically ship the agency’s shopper record to
a few of Madigan’s Statehouse staffers in order that they may examine it towards
laws that was presently earlier than the Illinois Home, Seidel famous.
The jury was additionally proven emails from Madigan’s legislative staffers
to Getzendanner relating to inquiries in regards to the agency’s shoppers, or whether or not some
entities with points earlier than the legislature had been shoppers.
“There was a relentless backwards and forwards between Mike’s legislative
workers and the legislation workplace,” Getzendanner advised jurors, in keeping with Dave Byrnes
with Courthouse Information.
Getzendanner additionally testified that he had the ultimate say about
whether or not to herald shoppers.
For instance, in a memo proven to jurors from Getzendanner to
Madigan, Getzendanner wrote, “No file is accepted and opened till I do a
evaluate to find out if the agency’s illustration would represent a battle,
or the looks of a battle, along with your legislative duties,” reported the Tribune’s
Jason Meisner.
Jurors had been proven a chart of Madigan shoppers with notations from
varied people about potential conflicts. “Most entries on the chart say, ‘no
battle,’” reported Seidel. Madigan legal professional Dan Collins highlighted one e-mail
that learn, “potential look of battle; principal proprietor of Walton is
Neil Bluhm who’s principal proprietor of Rivers On line casino. Very skinny connection, however
err on aspect of warning.”
This thorough and almost fixed vetting course of is why the
individuals who thought they knew Madigan properly firmly believed that he understood
the place the authorized strains had been and that he had by no means crossed them. Some nonetheless
imagine that’s true at the moment.
Shoppers with land-transfer points would positively be screened out,
Getzendanner testified, in keeping with Seidel. “That is a class the place you
completely couldn’t tackle a shopper.”
And but, the prosecution has proven jurors proof that Madigan
did, certainly, work on laws to assist an actual property investor by attempting to
transfer a Chinatown land switch invoice by means of the Home. The feds additionally introduced
proof that allege a profitable switch would’ve resulted in authorized enterprise
for Madigan & Getzendanner from that developer.
The deal was being put collectively by then-Chicago Ald. Danny Solis,
who turned a mole for the FBI after being confronted along with his personal lawbreaking.
As I’ve advised you earlier than, Madigan instructed Solis to succeed in out to Michael
McClain to see if he may assist. McClain was Madigan’s high adviser and the
trial’s Madigan co-defendant.
Madigan later advised Solis that he was contemplating approaching the
Illinois Division of Transportation in regards to the switch, as a result of the company
was an essential a part of the method. He then advised Solis, “I’m attempting to determine
out a solution to method it,” suggesting that he was attempting to assist with the
switch whereas avoiding leaving his fingerprints.
Madigan urged at one level that McClain speak to a Senator,
then acquired a briefing from McClain about legislators who had been opposing the
invoice.
At one level, Solis advised Madigan that if the Home Speaker may
“take care” of that Chinatown switch by the top of spring session, “I’m
assured they’ll admire it and … signal you up on after Might,” as their
property tax legal professional.
OK, wait a second. Didn’t Getzendanner testify underneath oath that he
had the ultimate say in taking over new shoppers and that there was no method a shopper
with a land switch invoice would ever be accepted? And wasn’t there a large
and ongoing shopper vetting course of?
It doesn’t matter to the feds. Insurance policies could be modified, in spite of everything.
They usually have sufficient recordings to recommend Madigan was pushing the invoice and was
being advised he’d get a brand new shopper out of it.
“Certainly one of my regrets is that I had any time spent with Danny Solis,”
Madigan advised jurors, in keeping with the Solar-Instances.
The trial is wrapping up as I write this. However no matter occurs,
Madigan ought to’ve recognized higher than to have ever labored with Solis. He introduced
all this on himself.
