FBI Alleges Madigan Directed Illegal Acts in Wiretaps
Indicted former House Speaker Michael Madigan was recorded by the FBI in conversations with lobbyist and confidante Mike McClain.
The general thinking of many Springfield or political types is that House Speaker Michael Madigan was likely bulletproof from wiretaps because there “was no way” he would be so reckless to talk about criminal activity on the phone.
Maybe we were wrong.
In a 144-page application and affidavit for a search warrant, unsealed this week, the FBI requested to search the phone of Madigan confidante and former lobbyist Mike McClain. McClain was believed to be the conduit between Madigan and any illegal activities. There are two specific conversations that the FBI points to between Madigan and McClain they believe showed Madigan actually had knowledge of the illegal activities.
The first, on May 16, 2018, involved the manufactured appointment of former McPier CEO Juan Ochoa to the ComEd Board of Directors.
Madigan said to McClain about pushback from ComEd to Ochoa’s appointment, "Alright and Mike, my recommendation is, go forward with [Ochoa] so if the only complaint about [Ochoa] is that he suffers from bankruptcy twice, so did Harry Truman."
McClain said, "Right."
Madigan said, ''You know, and then are you going to talk to her about [Ochoa]."
McClain said, "I did today. I had a long conversation. I thought I better move on that after our conversation Monday."
In the filing, FBI agent McNamara said it was proof Madigan directed McClain to conduct illegal activities.
“I believe this call demonstrates that Madigan directs McClain to solicit or extort from ComEd private benefits for Madigan's associates, including [Ochoa],” McNamara wrote.
Then, on August 29, 2018, McClain and Madigan discussed efforts to recruit third parties to make monthly payments to former aide Kevin Quinn who had been fired after being accused of sexual harassment by Madigan staffer Alaina Hampton.
McClain said, "So, Speaker, I put four or five people together that are willing to contribute to help a monthly thing, for the next six months like I mentioned to you to [Quinn].”
Madigan said, "Yeah, yeah."
McClain said, "So I'm prepared to talk about it, but I didn't know if you wanted to mention it to - [Quinn] -or if you want to stay out of it or ... do you want me to talk to [Quinn]? I mean, whatever you want."
Madigan said, ''Yeah I think I ought to stay out of it."
McClain said, "Okay.''
Madigan said, "That's what I think."
McClain said, ''Okay, alright. I'll take care of it."
The FBI said the call showed Madigan informed McClain that he wanted to be able to appear to have no knowledge of the payments being made to Quinn and directed McClain to inform [Quinn] that arrangements were made to supply with monthly payments from the aforementioned lobbyists.
Those could be two major lines you hear about in any eventual Madigan trial.
