(The Center Square) – At the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, former Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis has testified that he was able to steer real estate tax business to Madigan’s private law firm.
Prosecutor Diane MacArthur played a recording of Madigan calling Solis to ask about a development called Peoria Park in Chicago’s West Loop.
“You know why I’m interested,” Madigan told Solis on the recording.
“Yes,” Solis answered.
Solis testified that he knew Madigan was interested in an introduction with the developers to get business for his private firm, Madigan and Getzendanner.
Solis continued testimony from Monday about the development of a land parcel in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood, which remains a parking lot today.
Solis told MacArthur that he wanted his legacy to include the development of the lot.
On March 26, 2018, Solis met privately with Madigan at Madigan and Getzendanner after a meeting with Chinatown developers Jason and Alex Lin, who were not involved in the Chinatown parking lot parcel.
Solis updated Madigan on the Chinatown parking lot parcel, and told him that an Illinois Senate bill would be needed to transfer the property from the state of Illinois to the city of Chicago. Solis asked Madigan if he should call Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, but Madigan told Solis that he would have Michael McClain call Harmon instead.
McClain is Madigan’s codefendant in the ongoing corruption trial in Chicago.
Separately Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, former state Rep. Michael McClain and former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan enter the federal court building in Chicago for their corruption trial.
In April 2018, Madigan and McClain discussed the development and the opposition it faced from then-state Sens. Antonio Munoz, D-Chicago, and Martin Sandoval, D-Chicago. Madigan suggested that a visit from a Chinatown delegation might change their minds. Munoz later agreed to support the project without a visit from Chinatown leaders.
The project also faced opposition from then-Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn as the end of the General Assembly’s spring session approached.
Solis said the senate transfer bill was introduced but did not pass on May 31, 2018, the final day of the legislative session. Solis said the project remained under discussion during the summer of 2018.
Solis also discussed proposed redevelopment of Chicago’s Old Post Office building, which had served as the city’s main post office for more than 50 years before it closed in 1997.
After a meeting with other developers at Madigan’s law office on June 20, 2018, Solis met privately with the former speaker and suggested that he would run for reelection but might seek a state board appointment. Madigan said, “I would have to look at that file.”
During the private meeting, Madigan asked Solis about the Old Post Office developer in an apparent effort to gain business for Madigan and Getzendanner. Madigan suggested that the developer, Harry Skydell, had resisted working with him and indicated that the developer believed Madigan was not on good terms with then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Solis agreed with Madigan that the developer’s beliefs about Emanuel were not true.
“Every meeting, he’s singing your praises,” Solis told Madigan, referring to Emanuel.
Madigan and Solis also talked about their children.
“All my kids went to the best schools,” Madigan told Solis.
MacArthur introduced an envelope as evidence, which Solis said contained a list of state board positions and compensation amounts. MacArthur displayed the envelope’s contents for jurors. The envelope also contained Madigan’s business card.
Solis testified Tuesday morning that he was able to steer work to Madigan’s firm. Solis made the statement after Judge John Robert Blakey overruled defense attorneys’ objections to the foundation of MacArthur’s questioning.
The indictment against Madigan and McClain alleges that the two men used Madigan’s public office to illegally steer business to his private law firm.
On June 12, 2017, Madigan called Solis to ask about the proposed Union West development in the West Loop, which was just inside the boundaries of the ward represented by Solis.
“Do you know the developer? Do you know the people there?” Solis asked.
“No, but I’d like to,” Madigan answered.
“All right. Let me see what I can do to get you an introduction,” Solis said.
“OK. That’d be great,” Madigan said.
Telephone conversation between Michael Madigan and Daniel Solis, DATE: June 12, 2017
After the jury left for a morning break, Madigan’s defense attorney Dan Collins raised a potential issue about referrals. Blakey encouraged attorneys to work out their issues during the break, and Collins and MacArthur conversed for several minutes. Collins said he preferred not to reveal details about what he planned to discuss during cross-examination of Solis.
Blakey told government attorneys to make sure Solis’ answers clearly delineated whether or not he was a cooperating witness at the time.
Madigan and McClain are charged with 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct in connection with a scheme which federal prosecutors referred to as “Madigan Enterprise.”
The trial is scheduled to resume Wednesday morning at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago. The judge said the court would go into recess at noon Wednesday for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
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