Unqualified Hires and Political Favors: Trial Uncovers Alleged Bribery Scheme Involving Former Illinois House Speaker and ComEd Executives
CHICAGO — In a federal courtroom in Chicago, jurors have been presented with a case that peels back the curtain on the intersection of political influence and corporate hiring practices. At the heart of the controversy is former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and his longtime associate Mike McClain, a prominent lobbyist, both of whom stand accused of engaging in a sophisticated bribery scheme with the electric utility, Commonwealth Edison (ComEd). According to testimony, Madigan’s influence allegedly prompted ComEd executives to favor job candidates who performed poorly in interviews, failed screening tests, or didn’t show … Read more