The government’s star witness took the stand Thursday in former Illinois Speaker of the House Mike Madigan’s ongoing corruption trial.
Former Chicago alderman and FBI mole Danny Solis testified about an alleged $1.3 million bribery scheme, which prosecutors allege was directed by Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain.
Solis briefly took the stand late for a little over a half hour before court adjourned for the day. During his testimony, Solis spoke in detail about his Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the government.
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The 75-year-old is formally charged with bribery and awaits sentencing.
FBI Special Agent Ryan McDonald testified how agents first confronted then Alderman Solis with evidence he’d taken bribes in June of 2016.
“We knocked on the door. Mr. Solis answered and we requested to speak with him,” McDonald said. “We told him we were conducting an investigation and we had wiretapped his phone. And we showed him surveillance photos and asked him for his cooperation.”
According to the FBI, among the surveillance photos were apparent compromising photos of Solis with an unnamed individual outside a massage parlor. After consulting with his lawyer, the Chicago City Council Zoning Committee chairman agreed to cooperate with the government and wear a wire.
Going into hiding in 2019 when press reports blew his cover, Solis had initially been expected to testify in the extortion bribery trial of former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke, who was convicted last year. Prosecutors elected to hold Solis back during Burke’s trial.
Solis’ testimony should last more than a week. Madigan and McClain deny any involvement in the alleged criminal conspiracy.
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