Jurors in the “ComEd Four” trial on Tuesday were shown payments to four political allies of ex-Speaker Michael Madigan who allegedly received thousands of dollars a month for doing little or no work as part of a far-reaching alleged bribes-for-favors scheme.
The payments allegedly were funneled through defendant Jay Doherty’s lobbying and consulting firm and distributed to Madigan’s hand-picked former 13th Ward Ald. Frank Olivo, former 23rd Ward Ald. Mike Zalewski, and two high-ranking 13th Ward precinct captains, Ray Nice and Ed Moody, who once served as the former Cook County recorder of deeds.
All but Zalewski sent invoices for the monthly checks worth between $4,000 to $5,000, according to Janet Gallegos, Doherty’s administrative assistant.
Gallegos testified that she rarely saw the subcontractors, as most of the checks were mailed to their homes or businesses.
She said saw Zalewski in person only twice. The first time he came into the office to pick up his check. The second time, she said, he “dropped off a ham for Christmas.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker also took Gallegos through a series of emails regarding the subcontracts, including some where she had to deal with a lag between Doherty’s contract being renewed by ComEd and the subcontractors being paid.
[ [Don’t miss] ‘ComEd Four’ bribery trial: What you need to know ]
[ ‘ComEd Four’ trial: Evidence seen and heard by the jury[Don’t miss] ]
In April 2019, Zalewski emailed Gallegos about a delay in payment, saying he was going to meet Doherty and a mutual friend for lunch and was wondering if he should bring up the issue.
“I’m very grateful for what everyone has done to help me,” Zalewski’s email read. “The last check I received was November of last year. Please know, I AM NOT complaining.”
The FBI raided the City Club offices a month later.
Prosecutors have alleged the subcontracts represented favors done to ingratiate ComEd with Madigan, who controlled the fate of ComEd’s legislative agenda.
The prosecutors alleged Doherty complied with ComEd requests to distribute the money as part of a plot with former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, former ComEd executive John Hooker, and former ComEd contract lobbying Michael McClain. a longtime Madigan confidant.
In her cross examination, Gabrielle Sansonetti, one of Doherty’s lawyers, attempted to portray Doherty in a favorable light in his activities as a lobbyist registered with Chicago, Cook County and the state of Illinois.
Did Doherty always insist you do things by the book? Sansonetti asked.
“Yes, Gallegos responded.
Did he ever ask that you keep something secret? Sansonetti asked.
“No,” Gallegos said.
“No wink-wink, nod-nod?” Sansonetti asked.
“No,” Gallegos said.
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