Opening statements could begin today in ComEd bribery case

By BRETT ROWLAND THE CENTER SQUARE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER

(The Center Square) — Opening statements could begin Wednesday in a two-year-old case accusing four former ComEd executives and lobbyists of a multi-year scheme to corruptly influence longtime former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Judge Harry Leinenweber led the jury selection process Tuesday with input from prosecutors and defense attorneys. Most of the jury selection questioning was done via a sidebar, which could only be heard by the prosecutors, defendants and their attorneys listening through headphones. They worked through the first batch of 70 potential jurors. More than two dozen were dismissed because they said there were hardships that would make it difficult for them to attend a trial expected to last six-to-eight weeks.

Late Tuesday afternoon, the judge brought in a second batch of potential jurors for questioning. Some were questioned at length.

Others were quickly sent home. The judge plans to impanel 12 jurors with six alternates.

Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker, former ComEd consultant Jay Doherty and former lobbyist and state lawmaker Michael McClain have all pleaded “not guilty” to conspiracy, bribery, and willfully falsifying ComEd books and records.

Before the jury selection began Tuesday, Judge Leinenweber allowed an attorney representing media outlets to intervene to get access to copies of recordings admitted as evidence in the trial.

The judge granted the media motion over objections from Mr. McClain’s attorney, Patrick Cotter.

Prosecutors plan to introduce wiretap evidence during the trial. They also plan to call 70 witnesses.

Once a jury is impaneled, opening statements could begin. ComEd, the state’s largest electric utility, agreed to pay $200 million in July 2020 to resolve a criminal investigation into the years-long bribery scheme. As part of a deferred prosecution agreement, ComEd admitted it arranged jobs, vendor subcontracts and payments in a bid to influence Madigan.

Jurors won’t hear about that 38-page agreement at trial. The judge granted a motion to keep that agreement out of evidence. Defense attorneys had argued “allowing the jury to learn of ComEd’s agreement to pay $200 million would severely prejudice defendants because jurors may conclude that ComEd thought that its officers committed a very serious crime if they paid a $200 million fine,” according to pretrial motions.

Fidel Marquez, a former ComEd official, pleaded guilty to bribery charges in September 2020. Mr. Marquez is expected to testify that “he participated in a conspiracy to provide benefits to Madigan’s associates with the intent to induce Madigan to take action as Speaker that was favorable to ComEd, including support of ComEd’s efforts to pass legislation beneficial to ComEd,” according to court documents.

Mr. Madigan served in the Illinois House from 1971 to 2021. From 1997 to 2021, he served as speaker of the Illinois House. He wielded additional power as chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.

Mr. Madigan, who resigned after losing the House speakership in January 2021, has been charged with 23 counts of racketeering, bribery and official misconduct in a separate case that could go to trial in April 2024. He has pleaded “not guilty.”

HULSEBUSCH, Harald H. A.

Harald H. A. Hulsebusch, after a full and remarkable life of 89 years, passed away at 4:44 PM on February 28, 2023, with his loving stepdaughter, Julia Jane Di Sieno, at his side. He followed his wife, Wanda, who left us in December of 2021. Harald was born in Ovelgonne, Germany on December 2, 1933, to Lili and Heinrich Hulsebusch.

After a 35 year career at sea, as an engineer on ocean going ships, he retired as chief engineer on a tuna clipper. He was a partner in an ambitious and forward thinking lobster fishing venture in which he was also chief engineer on a vessel specially designed to catch, prepare, clean, freeze, and hold the catch. In 1961, he settled in Santa Barbara. Harald invested in local real estate and was, hands down, considered the most generous landlord his tenants ever had, always making sure families were housed safely. He and Wanda had a fabulous life, travelling the world together. His love of the sea continued, and for 20 years, in his sailing yacht, “Eagle”, Harald, first mate Wanda, stepdaughter Julia, and many friends cruised the coastal waters, with many trips to Catalina and the Channel Islands. Harald was a proud member of the Santa Barbara Elks Club, the Santa Barbara German Club, and the Edelweiss Club. In his later years he enjoyed playing the game of Bunco.

After he lost Wanda, the last 14 months of his life were not spent in loneliness. He lived with Julia during most of that time, and she watched over him day and night. They took frequent day trips and dined at Harald’s old haunts and favorite restaurants. He is survived by his brother, Immo (Else) of Rodenkirchen, Germany, and his 2 sisters, Siegrid (Horst) Ilchman of Flensburg, Germany, and Edith (Jeff) Frank of Gig Harbor, WA. He is also survived by 11 nieces and nephews and 12 grand nieces and nephews, as well as a stepson and stepdaughter.

He will be interred at the Santa Barbara Cemetery next to his wife, Wanda, on a hill overlooking the sea. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, March 17th. A luncheon will follow at “The Anchor Rose” , 113 Harbor Way, Ste 180 Santa Barbara, CA 93109.

Please make any donations in Harald’s honor to Animal Rescue Team Inc. and the Santa Barbara Elks Club.

Shorty, how lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. There is only one happiness in this life, to love and to be loved. Too dearly loved to be forgotten. See you and Mutti on the other side. Prost!

Love, Julchen

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Rain

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Along with the rain came fast wind. In fact, a big eucalyptus tree — a victim of the windy and rainy conditions — fell over a bridge that crosses Tecolote Creek near The Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort in Goleta.

Throughout the South Coast, small ponds emerged on street corners, with pedestrians doing their best to navigate around the water that kept flowing. Sometimes they just had to take a leap of faith — literally. The storm was expected to end early this morning. Before the News-Press went to press on Tuesday evening, the National Weather Service said there could be a burst of rain overnight, which it said was more likely for the South Coast than North County. The storms have made a big difference in local reservoirs.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department reported these elevation figures: 747.18 feet at Lake Cachuma, 600.73 feet at Alisal Reservoir, 1,400.27 feet at Gibraltar Reservoir and 2,224.38 feet at Jameson Reservoir. In anticipation of the storm, Santa Barbara Unified School

District campuses, schools in Montecito and the Santa Barbara City College campuses were closed Tuesday. The same schools planned to reopen today. People were determined to be prepared for the storm. Customers on Monday stocked up on supplies at Costco’s in Goleta. The crowd was big enough that one shopper remarked that it seemed more like a Sunday, a traditionally busier day for Costco than a Monday. And all the rain discouraged drivers from going on the road. Traffic was lighter than usual on Highway 101 in Montecito, Santa Barbara and Goleta.

The storm is warmer than the one on Jan. 9. Highs on Tuesday were the upper 50s throughout Santa Barbara County, and most of the lows were in the mid-50s. “Dry and warmer weather is expected Thursday and Friday with a chance of light precipitation over the weekend,” the National Weather Service said Tuesday afternoon.

One fringe benefit of the recent rains is De la Guerra Plaza. The formerly brown, formerly thin grass at the Santa Barbara park was green and lush on Tuesday. email: dmason@newspress.com