Prosecutors rest case against former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan
By HANNAH MEISEL
Capitol News Illinois
hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com
CHICAGO – After years of pushing in Springfield, AT&T Illinois’ executive team was thrilled when the Illinois General Assembly in 2017 passed legislation that would get the company out from under expensive obligations to maintain its aging copper landline wires in Illinois.
“Game over. We win,” AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza wrote to a colleague after the final vote to override then-Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of the legislation on July 1, 2017. “I am very proud of our team persevering through the most difficult of circumstances.”
The previous months had been a rollercoaster for La Schiazza and his team. They hadn’t been sure until the very end of the General Assembly’s spring legislative session if powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan would even call AT&T’s prized legislation for a vote, and then they were caught off guard by Rauner’s veto.
For his efforts to finally pass the measure, La Schiazza was awarded an $85,000 bonus the following February. But in the more immediate future, La Schiazza received a request he perceived as a conspicuous wink that those in Madigan’s orbit were keeping score – and that the speaker’s efforts needed further recognition.
Read more: Calculated bribe or ‘kiss up’ to Madigan? Corruption trial kicks off for former AT&T boss | Madigan case widens as AT&T agrees to $23 million fine
“Here we go…this will be endless,” La Schiazza wrote to a colleague in forwarding an email from Madigan’s son asking AT&T to be a sponsor of an upcoming charity gala.
“I suspect the ‘thank you’ opportunities will be plentiful,” the colleague replied.
“Yep…we’re on the friends and family plan now,” La Schiazza wrote back.
Federal prosecutors showed the email during the wind-down of La Schiazza’s trial on Monday, in which the former AT&T president is accused of bribing Madigan via an alleged do-nothing consulting contract for a political ally worth $22,500.
Read more: On witness stand, former AT&T lobbyist describes how Madigan ally got $22,500 contract
Government lawyers rested their case against La Schiazza on Monday afternoon, while La Schiazza declined to put on a defense case. The jury will get the case on Tuesday after attorneys for both sides make their closing arguments.
La Schiazza maintains AT&T’s successful push for its 2017 legislation was the result of a sophisticated yearslong lobbying strategy and the consulting contract for former state Rep. Eddie Acevedo was meant to simply build goodwill with Madigan.
Prosecutors sought to prove Acevedo, who has already served a six-month prison term for tax evasion related to his lobbying business, did no work for AT&T in the nine months the company paid him indirectly through one of its longtime contract lobbyists.
That lobbyist, Tom Cullen, told the jury earlier in trial that he agreed to pay Acevedo in the spirit of being a “team player” for his longstanding client and that he never expected Acevedo to do any work.
And on Monday, an FBI agent testified that he couldn’t find any work product from Acevedo in more than 200,000 pages of documents produced from both AT&T and APEX Strategies, the lobbying firm owned by Acevedo’s sons. Acevedo had purportedly been contracted to complete a report about the political dynamics within the Latino caucuses of the Illinois General Assembly and Chicago City Council.
Cullen testified that months after Acevedo agreed to the $2,500-per-month arrangement – after first balking at the offer – he jokingly checked in with one of AT&T’s internal lobbyists about the phantom report.
Read more: In bribery trial, AT&T lobbyists detail contentious meeting with Madigan ally
“Hey, have you seen that report?” Cullen recalled asking the other lobbyist with a laugh. “I think neither of us expected there to have been a report.”
Acevedo, who’d recently retired after 20 years in the Illinois House, had been recommended for work with AT&T by one of Madigan’s closest confidants, longtime Springfield lobbyist Mike McClain.
McClain, who’d recently officially retired from lobbying but still hung around Springfield, had first reached out to an AT&T lobbyist in February of 2017 about a “small contract” for Acevedo. Two days later, cell phone records entered into evidence Monday showed that McClain and La Schiazza spoke shortly before La Schiazza emailed a handful of colleagues informing them that McClain had assigned him AT&T’s bill as a “special project.”
La Schiazza’s attorneys pointed out that their client didn’t take an active role in recruiting Acevedo – and never once spoke to him over the phone, per the government’s cell phone records. But prosecutors noted he signed off on the arrangement and pushed for it to get done quickly in emails to his colleagues.
Meanwhile on Monday, Madigan spent hours in a courtroom five floors below La Schiazza’s trial in Chicago’s Dirksen Federal Courthouse while his attorneys went through motion after motion ahead of his bribery and racketeering trial scheduled for next month.
Judge John Blakey held some of his decisions until he could review contested evidence, but delivered a few key rulings, including excluding a wiretapped phone call between Madigan and McClain, his co-defendant in the trial.
McClain has already been convicted along with other ex-lobbyists and executives for electric utility Commonwealth Edison of a similar bribery scheme to what’s alleged in the AT&T trial, though on a larger scale. McClain and his co-defendants are fighting the convictions after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling this summer narrowed the definition of “bribery.”
Read more: SCOTUS ruling could upend federal corruption cases for Madigan, allies
Just as the judge did in the ComEd case, Judge Blakey barred prosecutors from playing a call in which Madigan joked with McClain that certain labor consultants that contracted with ComEd “made out like bandits.”
“For very little work too,” McClain agreed.
Blakey agreed with Madigan’s attorneys that the call would be confusing and prejudicial, because the consultants named in the call were not, in fact, among the speaker’s allies in the government’s alleged bribery scheme.
The judge also ruled that while the jury can hear about the payments McClain arranged for an ousted political operative in Madigan’s political organization, prosecutors are barred from talking about the sexual harassment allegations that caused the operative’s ouster.
Blakey also noted that jury selection in Madigan’s trial may take as long as four days, meaning opening statements in the trial could be pushed to Oct. 15.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of newspapers, radio and TV stations statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.
Illinois News
Concerned Citizens Reference Missouri Fire at Manteno Board Meeting
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Those who oppose the China-based Gotion battery plant near Manteno may be pumping their fists high in the air about Donald Trump winning the November 5 presidential election. A day before the election, resident Francine Fatima was cocksure that Trump was going to win when she addressed the Manteno Village…
Beecher Community Library News
Spread the loveCall the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. Youth Services A new turkey leaf take-and-make craft is available. Pick-up anytime! Help us decorate our “Very Hungry Caterpillar” Chamber of Commerce Christmas Tree by dropping by the library during opening hours and making a food or gift ornament. November 14, 15, 21,…
PHS Golf Team Honored
Spread the loveThe Peotone High School Golf team recently presented the following awards to members of this year’s Blue Devil Team. Congratulations and well done! Andrew Barta, Josh Barta, and Gavin Costanzo were named ICE Conference All-Academic. ICE All-Conference honors were presented to Joe Hasse, Gavin Costanzo, and Mason Early. Devon Lynch was chosen to…
Monee Police Blotter: October 27 – November 2
Spread the loveOn October 27, at approximately 5:40 p.m., officers responded to a hit-and-run traffic crash in the Amazon lot on Monee-Manhattan Road. It was determined the crash was property damage only. The offender had left the scene after becoming argumentative. Officers took the witness statements and attempted to locate the offending vehicle. After conducting…
Crete Police Blotter: September 1 – 30
Spread the loveIn an effort to inform the community of current crimes and seek the public’s assistance in pending investigations, the Crete Police Department attempts to post information related to crimes occurring within the village and includes arrests and crimes in the community. This is only a partial list of calls for service, as officers…
Joliet Symphony Orchestra Presents ‘Pictures’ at USF November 23-24
Spread the loveThe Joliet Symphony Orchestra’s 2024-2025 Season continues with “Pictures” on Saturday, November 23, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, November 24, at 4 p.m. The concerts will take place in Sexton Auditorium (Moser Performing Arts Center), on the main campus of University of St. Francis (USF), 500 Wilcox Street in Joliet. This concert of…
Join USF for Breakfast with Santa
Spread the loveGet ready to start the holiday season with the University of St. Francis (USF) at the annual Breakfast with Santa event on Saturday, December 7, from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m., in the Sullivan Recreation Center, on the main USF campus, 500 Wilcox Street, Joliet. This annual Christmas tradition continues with a delicious breakfast,…
Holiday Spirit Shines Bright in Frankfort with ‘Lighting of the Green’
Spread the loveJoin in the annual Lighting of the Green, December 5 The Village of Frankfort is excited to kick-off the holiday season with the much-anticipated return of the beloved Lighting of the Green! Join family, friends, and neighbors for an evening of festive fun, twinkling lights, and holiday cheer that will make spirits bright!…
Beecher Police Blotter: October 28 – November 2
Spread the loveDisclaimer: Charges against each defendant are merely accusations, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. On October 28, William Ryan, 61, of Manhattan, was stopped for speeding and found to have a revoked driver’s license. He was issued citations for both offenses, given a notice-to-appear and released.…
Emma Cheatham, PA-C, Joins Riverside’s Neurosurgery Team
Spread the loveCheatham is seeing patients in Kankakee. Riverside Healthcare is pleased to welcome neurosurgery physician assistant Emma Cheatham, PA-C. Neurosurgery is a medical specialty that focuses on diagnosing and treating conditions that impact the nervous system, specifically the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Cheatham completed her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at Pacific University…
Peotone Library News
Spread the loveRegister for events on the website calendar or call the library at 708-258-3436. Homebound Delivery Program: Contact the Adult Services Department for more information and guidelines. The library will close at 3 p.m., on Wednesday, November 27, and remain closed November 28 and 29, for the Thanksgiving holiday. It will reopen on Saturday,…
Monee Historical Society Presentation Honors Veteran’s Journey
Spread the loveBy Karen Haave A son proud of his father’s legacy has created a presentation telling of his accomplishments, highlighting his military service during WWII. Timothy DeMuth says his father’s years as a young Naval Signalman First Class were “not dramatic.” But the historical significance outweighs any spectacle. In a program he wrote for…
St. Joseph Grotto Celebrates Centennial Anniversary
Spread the loveBy Karen Haave A century-old grotto honoring the Virgin Mary was cause for celebration recently at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Manteno. A grotto is a small picturesque cavern with decorations, built for ornamental and devotional purposes. They often are used as shrines for statues of saints, particularly the Virgin Mary, in outdoor…
Aqua Source Switch Complete in Peotone Just as Residents Get Their Bills
Spread the loveBy Karen Haave Aqua Illinois has announced the completion of major water and wastewater infrastructure improvements in the Village of Peotone, as well as the source water switch transition for the estimated 4,283 customers it serves there. The announcements come as residents are reeling from bills showing the first rate increases planned from…
Peotone Library Director Thrilled to be Here
Spread the loveBy Karen Haave For Peotone’s new library director, no job compares to hers. Sarah Ehlers was appointed to the post in July, after Noreen Bormet announced her retirement. A veteran of library science, she has worked in Frankfort and Mokena, as well as Hinsdale, but Peotone has long had a special appeal for…