Don’t ‘forget what human frailty is’ An appeal for mercy for former City Club president Jay Doherty. Chicago Sun-Times · Jan 7, 2024
Judge’s health puts sentencing for ComEd bribery defendants in limbo U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber has yet to decide whether those hearings should also be postponed until after the Supreme Court considers an Indiana corruption case. Chicago Sun-Times · Jan 4, 2024
Supreme Court review of Indiana case could affect guilty verdicts in ComEd bribery trial, lawyers say The dispute is whether a federal bribery statute criminalizes only bribery, as opposed to also criminalizing so-called gratuities or rewards. Chicago Sun-Times · Dec 14, 2023
‘Life’ at stake? Ominous prediction made as sentencing hearings loom in ComEd bribery case It’s a sign of how serious all sides are taking the sentencing of Madigan confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, ex-ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and onetime City Club President Jay Doherty. Chicago Sun-Times · Nov 15, 2023
Botched 1988 Chicago bank robbery scheme inspires a movie, ‘HEIST 88’ Showtime film draws from the audacious plotting of Armand Moore, a man who used his skills ‘not as a genius but stupidly,’ a judge said. Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 22, 2023
Convicted ComEd CEO’s attorney warns ‘we may be trying this case again,’ but judge won’t allow contact with jurors Defense attorney Scott Lassar told the Chicago Sun-Times he was referring to possible rulings by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, or even the U.S. Supreme Court. Chicago Sun-Times · May 23, 2023
Federal prosecutors urge judge to block defense efforts to contact ComEd jurors, call it a ‘fishing expedition’ Federal prosecutors argued the appropriate response is “not to authorize the defendants to hound this jury — a move that no doubt will send a public message that jury service is something to be avoided.” Chicago Sun-Times · May 12, 2023
Lawyers for 2 convicted in ComEd bribery trial ask for permission to speak to jurors Attorneys for former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and ex-ComEd lobbyist John Hooker filed a motion in U.S District Court, asking for an order granting them permission to speak to the panel of seven women and five men who last week found them guilty on every count. Chicago Sun-Times · May 10, 2023
ComEd bribery case — which shook Illinois politics to the core — goes into the hands of jurors next week The jury will have a mountain of evidence to sort through. Jurors heard from about 50 witnesses over five weeks, saw piles of emails and heard a cache of secret FBI recordings that form the backbone of the feds’ case. Chicago Sun-Times · Apr 19, 2023
What’s next for CPS after Johnson’s win, flowers for George Freeman and more in your Chicago news roundup Today’s update is about an eight-minute read that will brief you on the day’s biggest stories. Chicago Sun-Times · Apr 6, 2023
Jurors in ComEd bribery trial won’t hear Madigan’s ‘bandits’ quip, judge rules The ex-speaker’s comment that ‘Some of these guys made out like bandits’ did not refer to the $1.3 million involved in the current trial, defense argued. A judge agreed. Chicago Sun-Times · Apr 5, 2023
As ComEd bribery trial gets underway, judge reverses course and will allow secret recordings to be released to the media Public can hear recordings of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan after challenge by Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ. Chicago Sun-Times · Mar 14, 2023
It’s not Madigan’s trial, but the feds’ big upcoming case is all about the former speaker Jurors at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse are expected to get a close-up look at how Springfield operated in the last decade when four political power players head to trial. Chicago Sun-Times · Mar 13, 2023
Judge halts public release of Madigan recordings, slain officer mourned and more in your Chicago news roundup Today’s update is a five-minute read that will brief you on the day’s biggest stories. Chicago Sun-Times · Mar 9, 2023
Chicago Sun-Times · Mar 9, 2023 Secret recordings of Madigan, allies won’t be released beyond courtroom, judge rules U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber said releasing the recordings to the public would “sensationalize the trial more than we want.”
Chicago Sun-Times · Mar 8, 2023 Judge blocks ‘Chicago machine’ expert from testifying in trial of 4 accused of Madigan bribes U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber noted that “emphasizing the history of corruption and election fraud that marked the early years of the machine could prejudice defendants.”
Chicago Sun-Times · Feb 25, 2023 R. Kelly’s ‘one more year’ is another slight for the R&B singer’s victims If he survives, Kelly will be an old man when he walks out of prison. I can’t predict the future, but more than likely, Kelly will never have the fame and fortune that allowed him to lure underage girls into a sexual trap.
Al Jazeera · Feb 23, 2023 R Kelly avoids lengthy addition to prison sentence The R&B singer was given one additional year of prison time for child pornography and the enticement of minors for sex.
Daily Record · Feb 23, 2023 R Kelly to serve extra year in jail on top of 30-year sentence for sex offences US District Judge Harry Leinenweber ordered that Kelly serve one year in prison.
Evening Standard · Feb 23, 2023 R Kelly to serve just extra year in prison for convictions for child pornography and enticing minors for sex Disgraced R&B star avoids lengthy add-on to 30-year prison sentence he is currently serving
WEKU · Feb 23, 2023 R. Kelly sentenced to one more year in prison for child pornography The disgraced former R&B star is already serving 30 years for sex trafficking and racketeering. On Thursday, he was given one more year in prison for having made pornography with three children.
Chicago Tribune · Feb 23, 2023 R. Kelly sentenced to an additional year in federal prison, and 19 concurrent years, for ‘horrific’ abuse of underage girls CHICAGO — The video of R. Kelly sexually abusing his teenage goddaughter, “Jane,” has haunted her for more than two decades, robbing her of her childhood, of her dreams of being a musician, of any chance she ever had at normalcy.
Chicago Tribune · Feb 23, 2023 R. Kelly sentenced to an additional year in federal prison, and 19 concurrent years in his Chicago case CHICAGO — A dramatic legal saga that began in a Cook County courtroom 20 years ago drew to a close in a Chicago federal courtroom Thursday as disgraced R&B superstar R. Kelly was sentenced to an additional year in prison on his conviction here.
Chicago Tribune · Feb 23, 2023 R. Kelly’s two-decade legal saga over sex abuse of teen girls set to end in a Chicago federal courtroom Thursday CHICAGO — A dramatic legal saga that began in a Cook County courtroom 20 years ago will draw to a close Thursday when disgraced R&B star R. Kelly is slated for sentencing in Chicago’s federal courthouse on convictions related to child pornography and sexual conduct with minors.
The Independent UK · Feb 22, 2023 Could R. Kelly spend the rest of his life in prison? R. Kelly wouldn’t be eligible for release until 2066, a year shy of his 100th birthday, if a federal judge accepts prosecutors’ recommendations at his upcoming sentencing hearing