Madigan and his co-defendant – longtime confidant Michael McClain – are on trial on racketeering and bribery charges​.

Madigan, the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history, was charged with bribery, racketeering, wire fraud, and other crimes.

Several weeks into a federal corruption trial, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has taken the stand to testify in his own defense. Facing a 23-count indictment for bribery, racketeering,

Ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan is set to return to the stand Wednesday morning, continuing testimony that will surely be some of the most crucial and closely examined of the bombshell public corruption trial.

Jurors were released before noon Thursday with instructions to come back on Wednesday to hear instructions and closing arguments, which are slated to stretch over three days.

Defense attorneys for ex-Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan rested their case in the once-powerful politician's federal corruption trial on Thursday. Less than an hour later, federal prosecutors had concluded their own single-witness rebuttal.

Lawyers for former House Speaker Michael Madigan formally rested their case before the jury on Thursday after calling 12 witnesses, most notably Madigan himself. And prosecutors also rested after a short rebuttal case.

Attorney representing former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan rested on Thursday afternoon, with the trial now one step closer to its conclusion.