Good afternoon, Chicago.
A onetime top political aide to House Speaker Michael Madigan will testify today in the trial of a former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan by secretly paying a Madigan ally through the aide’s lobbying firm.
Tom Cullen, a lobbyist who played political point man for years on Madigan’s government staff, is a key witness in the trial of Paul La Schiazza, not only because he was the alleged go-between for the illicit payments but also because of his intricate knowledge of Madigan’s operation.
The Tribune first reported in 2022 that Cullen had testified before the federal grand jury that was looking into broad aspects of Madigan’s political world, which prosecutors allege included a criminal enterprise aimed at providing personal financial rewards for Madigan and his associates.
Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.
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