West Central Reporter

The trial of the Com Ed Four, wrapped with a jury verdict on May 2, after 5 days of jury deliberation, according to NBC Chicago 5. All four defendants in the trial—former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and former ComEd consultant Jay Doherty—pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, and all four were found guilty on all counts. 

Sen. Neil Anderson shared his statement on the verdict in the ComEd trial in a May 2 Facebook post.

“For years, politicians have gotten away with backroom for-profit deals at the expense of special interest and politically connected groups. Today’s verdict shows that nobody is above the law and is a clear indication that our state’s ethical system needs to be overhauled. It’s time to enact real reforms to restore the public’s trust in our state’s government by confronting the culture of corruption in Springfield that has gone unchecked for decades,” Anderson wrote in his post.

NBC Chicago 5 further broke down the result of the trial, explaining each of the defendants' charges: Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore was CEO from 2012-2018. She was convicted of one count of conspiracy, four counts of public corruption, and four counts of falsification of accounting books and other records. Former ComEd Lobbyist John Hooker was convicted of conspiracy, one count of bribery, and four counts of falsification of accounting books and other records. Company Consultant Jay Doherty was convicted of a single count of conspiracy, one count of bribery, and four counts of falsification of accounting books and other records. Michel McClain, lobbyist and confidant of Michael Madigan, was convicted of conspiracy, four counts of bribery, and four counts of falsification of accounting books and other records. He will face a separate racketeering trial.

Madigan,79, was indicted on federal charges of racketeering and bribery according to a U.S. Department of Justice indictment issued March 2, 2022.  

"The 22-count indictment accuses Madigan of leading for nearly a decade a criminal enterprise whose purpose was to enhance Madigan’s political power and financial well-being while also generating income for his political allies and associates," the May 2 release reads. 

Charges allege that Madigan, who served a wide variety of roles, used these positions to further the goals of the criminal enterprise, directing the activities of co-defendant McClain, who allegedly carried out illegal activities at Madigan’s behest. 

"Madigan and McClain allegedly caused various businesses, including the utility company Commonwealth Edison, to make monetary payments to Madigan’s associates as a reward for their loyalty to Madigan, at times in return for performing little or no legitimate work for the businesses," the indictment release continues.

Madigan's trial on charges of racketeering has been set for April 2024, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. This comes on the heels of what is expected to be a six-seven week-long trial nearly a year after the indictment of Madigan and McClain. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Madigan ended his "record-breaking tenure as Illinois' House Speaker amid the burgeoning scandal two years ago," with his trial set to become the biggest public corruption trial at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse "since the trials of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich."

This comes as Chicago Sun-Times reports authorities expanded their racketeering conspiracy case against Madigan and McClain in October, alleging they "worked with onetime AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza to have $22,500 paid to former state Rep. Edward Acevedo amid an attempt to influence Madigan in favor of the company."