ComEd's Marquez, a Government Informant, Testifies in "ComEd Four" Trial
Former ComEd executive Fidel Marquez, pictured in 2008. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
Fidel Marquez, a former Commonwealth Edison executive , who pleaded guilty to bribery conspiracy, testified Monday in the trial of the so-called “ComEd Four.”
Some more details from Tina Sfondeles from the Chicago Sun-Times:
The government’s star witness took the stand at the ComEd bribery trial on Monday as prosecutors presented FBI recordings and internal ComEd documents showing the money went to people who allegedly did no work for the utility company.
“She wanted to make sure that we did everything possible to make sure that Michael Madigan had a favorable disposition toward the company,” Marquez testified, referring to former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore.
Marquez agreed to cooperate with investigators in 2019 and secretly recorded his colleagues who are now on trial: Pramaggiore, ex-ComEd lobbyist John Hooker, former ComEd lobbyist Michael McClain and Jay Doherty, onetime City Club of Chicago president.
The four are accused of arranging for jobs, contracts and money for Madigan’s associates while legislation crucial to ComEd moved through Springfield.
t the heart of Monday’s testimony was government evidence that Madigan associates were paid as subcontractors through Doherty’s firm but did no legitimate work for ComEd.
Exhibits included a 2017 contract in which Doherty’s consulting firm was paid $429,400, with $108,000 of that contract going to former 13th Ward precinct captain Ed Moody and former Chicago Ald. Frank Olivo, according to Marquez. Pramaggiore’s signature is on the January 23, 2017 contract.
In a May 16, 2018 call recorded by the FBI, jurors heard McClain explain to Marquez why Ray Nice should be paid $5,000 a month through Doherty’s ComEd contract. While the transcript of the call had previously been noted in pretrial filings with redactions, it was the first time the audio was released.
"Let me just tell you about each guy as you go through them, " McClain said.
“Ray Nice, he’s one of the top three precinct captains and he also trained people how to go door to door. And so, just to give you an idea of how important the guy is.”
The list also included former State Rep. Eddie Acevedo, who was later dropped after McClain told Marquez in 2018, “You can get rid of him.
It was the first step from the government to show the dealings between Madigan, McClain, and ComEd were criminal instead of just political horse trading.
“I know that they were brought on as a favor to Michael Madigan,” Marquez testified. “For Madigan to see ComEd positively. So that he could perhaps be helpful for our legislative agenda in Springfield.” (according to the Tribune)
One of the wiretaps played yesterday was between McClain and Pramaggiore as Pramaggiore was about the be promoted to Exelon CEO in 2018, and she credited McClain and Madigan for successes of the utility.
There were also conversations where lobbyists were trying to benefit ComEd in opposition to Madigan. In 2018, McClain and ComEd lobbyist John Hooker discussed trying to kill an electric grid bill pushed by Madigan’s daughter, then-Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
Marquez is due back on the stand Tuesday morning.