THE ILLINOIZE: Monday Free for All...Back and better than ever...ComEd trial shifts to defense...Abortion pills...Chicago DNC reaction
April 17, 2023
Good morning, Illinois.
Welcome back to the fun.
The House and Senate return tomorrow at noon beginning a five week sprint to a scheduled May 19 adjournment. Gov. Pritzker is hobnobbing with investment bankers in New York this morning ahead of a state bond sale.
We’re back on our normal schedule this week and we’ll announce some subscriber-level changes tomorrow, so be on the lookout.
Let’s get to it.
YOUR MONDAY FREE FOR ALL
(note: we’re not responsible for paywalls and restrictions from other news outlets)
Grilling of one former ComEd CEO overshadows another at 'ComEd Four' trial (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Former Commonwealth Edison CEO Anne Pramaggiore took the stand in her own defense late Thursday, but the day's drama in the “ComEd Four” trial centered on Joe Dominguez, her successor in that job and the man who ultimately signed the utility’s 2020 deferred-prosecution agreement, essentially admitting to an elaborate bribery scheme.
Dominguez, subpoenaed to testify as a defense witness for Pramaggiore, found himself being interrogated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu almost as if he were the defendant.
The fireworks got so intense at one point that Bhachu took a step back from his lectern as Dominguez challenged the prosecutor on what Bhachu had said during one of Dominguez’s meetings with the feds soon after the investigation became public in 2019.
“That might not work out for you,” Bhachu warned Dominguez as he asked U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber to instruct the witness not to raise what questioners had said during those sessions.
The courtroom let out a collective gasp as Dominguez collected himself and began answering Bhachu’s questions again.
What upset Dominguez were questions suggesting that he hadn't been honest in meetings with the feds, while still ComEd CEO, after the investigation became public. At the time, Dominguez was answering questions after obtaining a proffer letter that required him to be truthful but also barred the government from using anything he said in those sessions against him in any prosecution.
The source of the friction was video captured by Fidel Marquez, then a ComEd insider working as a government informant, in March 2019. In that video, Dominguez and Mike McClain, ComEd’s lead outside lobbyist, discussed the lobbying subcontracts for associates of House Speaker Michael Madigan kept on the lobbying contract of Jay Doherty.
McClain was explaining how Madigan, back in the 1970s, would get ComEd meter-reader jobs for constituents in the 13th Ward, his political power base. Those days were gone, so these lobbying deals were the new way to reward Madigan friends, he explained.
Related: As ‘ComEd Four’ shifts to defense, FBI wiretaps could prove hard to overcome (Chicago Tribune)
2 former ComEd CEOs – only one on trial – take stand in bribery case (Capitol News Illinois)
Illinois abortion providers say they will continue to provide abortion pill mifepristone (WBEZ)
Medication abortion remains legal and available in Illinois, despite a recent U.S. appellate court decision that put tighter rules on the drug.
Abortion providers across the state say they will continue to offer the two-pill combination of mifepristone and misoprostol, which are typically taken up to 48 hours apart to end a pregnancy.
“PPIL will continue to offer all abortion-care options available because everyone should have the ability to make a decision that is best for their bodies, their lives and their futures,” Jennifer Welch, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, said in a statement.
Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis region, which has a clinic in Illinois across the border in Fairview Heights, echoed the sentiment.
“As has been true throughout the history of this affiliate, in the face of attacks, we will do all we can to ensure patients get the care they want, need, and are entitled to,” the organization’s chief medical officer, Dr. Colleen McNicholas, said in a statement.
Then late Wednesday, a federal appeals court set up new restrictions for the drug but allowed it to remain approved. Now the drug can’t be sent through the mail and can only be used in abortions up to seven weeks, instead of previously through 10 weeks.
In a statement, Eric Scheidler, executive director of the Pro-Life Action League, applauded the appellate court’s decision.
Related: Pritzker slams DeSantis over Florida abortion law (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Chicago to host 2024 Democratic National Convention (Chicago Sun-Times)
The convention will take place Aug. 19-22 next year. It is expected to draw 5,000 to 7,000 delegates and alternates and attract up to 50,000 visitors to Chicago.
Evening events will be at the United Center — the main site of the 1996 Democratic convention in Chicago and the largest arena in North America — with daytime business to be conducted at the McCormick Place Convention Center, the location of the 2012 NATO Summit.
Delegates will be housed in about 30 hotels in Chicago.
For more than a year, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a co-chair of the Democratic National Committee and Mayor Lori Lightfoot have led a drive for Chicago to host the Democrats in 2024.
Chicago won the convention with a bid package of about $80 million.
President Joe Biden called Pritzker to tell him about Chicago’s selection on Tuesday morning before leaving for Ireland.
The call: Pritzker has been pitching Biden for the convention for over a year. The president called Pritzker Tuesday and told him, a source said, “I just want you to know we’re planning on having the Democratic convention in Chicago.”
Security: After the announcement, social media chatter about the violent 1968 convention started. But former police officials say the city needs to look at lessons from a more recent turbulent event in Chicago.
Residents react: “I think it’s a good thing. Chicago is a wonderful place. We have everything to offer,” said South Loop resident O’Dell Boyd.
Business boost: Local business leaders hope that by bringing a global spotlight to Chicago, the political event will show off the city’s best features and accelerate its post-pandemic resurgence.
At about the same time, Duckworth got a call from Biden White House adviser Steve Ricchetti, telling her about Chicago’s winning bid. DNC Chair Jaime Harrison phoned Lightfoot, and Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson got a call from the White House.
Related: Democrats proclaim Chicago ‘ideal’ setting for DNC convention next year (Chicago Tribune)
4 things to know about the 2024 Chicago Democratic convention (Chicago Sun-Times)
Democrats place big bet on Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson by tapping Chicago for ’24 convention (Chicago Tribune)
Illinois conservatives question Democrats' convention choice (Crain’s Chicago Business)
Rosemont expects boost from Democratic convention, but how big remains to be seen (Daily Herald)
POLITICAL POTPOURRI
Historical precedent called on in federal court arguments over Illinois gun ban (Chicago Tribune)
Illinois' push to clean energy has been re-energized by 2021 law (Daily Herald)
Fake school threats made in 19 Illinois counties, state police say (Bloomington Pantagraph)
Lori Lightfoot and Brandon Johnson weigh in on weekend shootings of teenagers as summer approaches (Chicago Tribune)
Illinois to receive $67.6 million in settlement with Juul e-cigarette manufacturer (Capitol News Illinois)
Chicago State University faculty reach a tentative agreement, ending their strike (Crain’s Chicago Business)
EIU classes resume as faculty union suspends strike (Journal Gazette & Times-Courier)
Tuition costs skyrocketed at public colleges amid 20 years of state disinvestment (Capitol News Illinois)
New Springfield mayor wants to “hit the ground running” (State Journal-Register)
Illinois first lady M.K. Pritzker appointed to committee charged with the preservation of the White House (Chicago Tribune)
Opinion: Mayor-elect Johnson faces fiscal cliff in general operating budget (Chicago Sun-Times)
Opinion: Here are three steps Brandon Johnson can take to move quickly on police reform (Chicago Sun-Times)
Opinion: Ranked choice voting is the future. That’s why we’re bringing it to Illinois. (Chicago Tribune)
Opinion: Illinois must now invest more in the state’s community health centers (Chicago Sun-Times)
JOIN US