Photo caption: Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore walks away from the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in downtown Chicago on May 2 after a jury found her guilty of helping to bribe longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams)
Jurors deliberated for 27 hours over five days
By Hannah Meisel, Capitol News Illinois
A federal jury on Tuesday convicted three ex-lobbyists and the former CEO of electric utility Commonwealth Edison for their involvement in an alleged bribery scheme aimed at longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Prosecutors alleged the foursome gave Madigan allies jobs and contracts at the utility in exchange for an easier path for ComEd-supported legislation in Springfield.
Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and Mike McClain – the utility’s longtime top contract lobbyist and close confidant of Madigan – were each found guilty of nine counts of conspiracy bribery and falsifying records. Former City Club of Chicago president Jay Doherty, who also served for decades as an external lobbyist for the utility, and John Hooker, a former ComEd executive turned contract lobbyist, were each found guilty of six counts.
Defendants declined to comment as they left the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, although Pramaggiore’s attorney Scott Lassar briefly spoke to reporters, saying only that his team was “disappointed in the ruling” and planned to appeal.
This story will be updated.
This story originally appeared on Capitol News Illinois.
