CHICAGO (CBS) — A federal judge has rejected former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s motion to dismiss most of the criminal charges against him , despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that narrowed the scope of federal bribery laws.
U.S. District Judge John Blakey also denied a request from Madigan’s co-defendant and longtime confidant, Michael McClain, to be tried separately from the former speaker.
Blakey’s rulings come less than a week before Madigan and McClain are set to face trial in federal court in Chicago.
Madigan and McClain are facing a federal indictment charging them with racketeering, conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud, most of which carry up to 20 years in prison if they are convicted.
They are accused of a bribery scheme involving multiple businesses – including ComEd – in which the businesses paid Madigan’s associates as a reward for their loyalty to Madigan. Federal prosecutors said Madigan used his various political positions as part of a long-term scheme to arrange for no-show jobs for his political workers, and personal benefits for himself.