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UNBELIEVABLE: 3 - The Untold Story

City Hall may seek to intervene in Danny Solis case, claiming to be victim

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she told lawyers to file a victim-impact statement in Solis’ case. She added, “no one is above the law and Chicago residents expect that their elected officials will be held accountable.”

Chicago Sun-Times

Afternoon Edition: April 12, 2022

Today’s update is a 5-minute read that will brief you on the day’s biggest stories.

Chicago Sun-Times

Ex-Ald. Danny Solis’ secret deal with feds goes public

It’s the formal understanding between U.S. Attorney John Lausch’s office and a man who could be remembered as one of Chicago’s most significant government moles. Solis’ cooperation was first exposed by the Chicago Sun-Times four weeks after he signed the deal.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Feds finally charge former Ald. Danny Solis — ‘Alderman A’ — with bribery

The bribery count leveled against Solis in a one-page, lightly detailed document at least confirms that Solis will face public charges. A lengthy investigation into his own alleged misdeeds prompted him to turn on some of the state’s most powerful politicians.

Chicago Sun-Times

Madigan’s defense team has mountain of evidence to review in months ahead

Meanwhile, prosecutors are mum on whether they plan to eventually expand upon last month’s bombshell indictment of the former speaker and ally Michael McClain.

Chicago Sun-Times

Ed Burke’s ‘tuna’: Indicted pol saved Old Post Office developer more than $12 million

The feds say a 601W Companies affiliate was going to hire him for property tax appeals for another building. Burke’s firm did the work. 601W reaped the savings — but decided not to hire Burke after his offices were raided.

Chicago Sun-Times

Illinois Supreme Court rules no overall ban on pols using campaign funds to pay criminal defense lawyers

The case involved former Ald. Danny Solis (25th), who was under federal investigation, but his successor, Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, had hoped state’s top court would set a precedent that could have broader implications for other politicians, such as former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and…

Chicago Sun-Times

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City Council member condemns Lightfoot as ‘phony reformer’

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez is furious over the tavern license granted to the Giant Penny Whistle, defying a moratorium along a three-block stretch of Blue Island Avenue. Sigcho-Lopez joined the Pilsen Neighbors Community Council in suing to nullify the license.

Chicago Sun-Times

Political operative Roberto Caldero to plead guilty, but says ‘at no time … would I be wearing a wire’

Prosecutors hit Caldero more than a year ago with an eight-count indictment saying he leaned on then-Ald. Danny Solis in 2016 to help an Ohio company win a $1 billion CPS custodial services contract and to get a street and park named in honor of members of the Cacciatore family.

Chicago Sun-Times

Lawsuit seeks to nullify liquor license for Pilsen bar

The tavern license was improperly issued by the city to Giant Penny Whistle, according to a lawsuit filed Monday.

Chicago Sun-Times

Did McClain speak for the House speaker? A legal battle to watch for in Madigan case

Former Speaker Michael Madigan’s indictment says he “directed the activities of his close friend and associate, [Michael] McClain, who carried out illegal activity at Madigan’s direction.” And the feds have portrayed McClain as a Madigan surrogate.

Chicago Sun-Times

1 developer, 2 Chicago corruption cases: Sun-Times identifies ‘Company A’ linked to Madigan, Burke cases

Prosecutors said the indicted politicians pressured the developer now confirmed to be 601W Companies to hire their law firms, It redeveloped what’s now called the Old Post Office.

Chicago Sun-Times

Madigan, Burke cases point to unrelenting greed, though it’s not like they needed the money

The charges they face of using their power for personal gain reflect something often seen in white-collar cases: No matter how much some people have, it’s never enough.

Chicago Sun-Times

Lightfoot ‘deeply offended’ by deferred prosecution deal keeping FBI mole Danny Solis out of prison

“This is a man who exploited his position ... to enrich himself, attempting to enrich others,” Lightfoot said. “There’s got to be consequences and accountability for that. It’s not enough for him to simply walk away. Sail off into the sunset. That sends the wrong message.”

Chicago Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times

Mike Madigan accused by feds of hitting up Ald. Solis to help Madigan’s son win business

While Madigan’s family member was not identified by name in the indictment last week, the Sun-Times has learned it is his son, Andrew.

Chicago Sun-Times

No walk of shame for Michael Madigan as his lawyers say ‘not guilty’ by phone — and he stays silent

Madigan’s arraignment came two years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted the federal courts along with the rest of daily life. It also largely put a halt to a ritual faced by scores of politicians before Madigan: The stroll through the lobby of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse…

Chicago Sun-Times

Lightfoot to renew push to eliminate aldermanic prerogative over zoning despite resounding Council opposition

Zoning Committee Chairman Tom Tunney (44th) and Education Chairman Michael Scott Jr. (24th) are among Lightfoot’s staunchest City Council supporters. Both men have warned the mayor to back off from a vote

Chicago Sun-Times

Madigan’s Chinatown ‘scheme’

Since the former Illinois House speaker was indicted under a law that’s been used to go after mob bosses, the charges involving ComEd have gotten the most attention. But there’s another big piece of the case.

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Chicago Sun-Times

Solis zoning shenanigans outlined in Madigan indictment latest sign of abuse of City Council members’ control over zoning

Mayor Lori Lightfoot could use the Madigan indictment to finally deliver on her campaign promise to eliminate aldermanic prerogative. But even the mayor’s staunchest allies are warning Lightfoot not to even try.

Chicago Sun-Times

Day of reckoning finally comes for ‘The Madigan Enterprise’

It was a sweeping indictment that rolls up so much of what we recognize as longstanding, everyday Illinois politics (of the corrupt variety) and packages it into a racketeering conspiracy.

Chicago Sun-Times

Former House Speaker Michael Madigan indicted in political corruption probe

Madigan is now one of the most significant politicians in Illinois history ever to face criminal charges, despite having left office more than a year ago.

Chicago Sun-Times

Judge in Ed Burke’s criminal case tells lawyers ‘stay tuned’ after crucial hearing on evidence

The hearing was a year-and-a-half in the making, dealing with pretrial motions first filed in August 2020. Burke’s lawyers alleged then that prosecutors withheld crucial information from Chicago’s chief federal judge as they sought to eavesdrop on City Hall phone lines, as well as Burke’s cellphone.

Chicago Sun-Times

City Hall wrongly OKed Pilsen tavern The Giant Penny Whistle’s liquor license, inspector general finds

In a new report, it says the Lightfoot administration and former Corporation Counsel Mark Flessner had no legal authority to agree to license the bar without lifting a 1995 moratorium.

Chicago Sun-Times

Legal fees — or not? State’s top court asked to stop pols under scrutiny from using campaign funds to pay defense lawyers

Justices heard arguments hinging on whether the high-priced criminal defenses that so many Illinois officials have had to pony up for amount to "personal" expenses prohibited by campaign financing law.

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