THE ILLINOIZE: Thursday Free for All...Mapes trial goes to jury...White Sox provide latest stadium drama...Illinois Republicans tread lightly around first presidential debate
August 24, 2023
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Federal jury gets case against Tim Mapes, longtime Democratic insider charged with lying to protect House Speaker Michael Madigan (Chicago Tribune)
After three weeks of trial full of intrigue and Springfield political scandal, a jury is now deliberating the the fate of Tim Mapes, the longtime aide to Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan accused of lying to a federal grand jury to protect his boss.
The jury of six men and six women was sent back at 4:35 p.m. Wednesday after hearing about five hours of closing arguments. Less than 10 minutes later, the panel sent U.S. District Judge John Kness a note requesting to go home for the day. “Leave: Now? Return: 9 a.m. 8/24,″ the note read.
“I think that is admirably concise and informative” said Kness, who granted their request.
Mapes, 68, of Springfield, is charged with perjury and attempted obstruction of justice in an indictment accusing him of repeatedly lying during his appearance before the grand jury investigating Madigan and his vaunted political operation.
He faces up to 20 years in prison on the obstruction count, while the perjury charges carry up to five years behind bars.
In her closing argument Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Schwartz told the jury that Mapes, who had served as Madigan’s chief of staff for more than 25 years, was an insider “who was behind the curtain” of Madigan’s often-secretive political organization, and could have given the grand jury key insight when he testified under a grant of immunity on March 31, 2021.
Mapes’ attorney, Andrew Porter, blasted those allegations in his closing argument, including the idea that Mapes somehow could have been a “star witness” against Madigan.
“It assumes, without evidence, assumes that Tim Mapes knew whether Madigan and McClain were discussing these topics,” Porter said. “And he didn’t ... He couldn’t remember what he didn’t know.”
Porter also said Mapes had no motive to lie, particularly since Madigan had ousted him in June 2018 in the midst of a sexual harassment scandal.
Related: Jury begins deliberations in perjury trial of ex-top aide to Madigan after feds hammer at ‘brazen’ and ‘preposterous’ lies (Chicago Sun-Times)
Jurors to decide whether ex-Madigan aide had memory lapse or chose ‘loyalty over truth’ (Capitol News Illinois)
Local alderperson wants ‘everything’ on the table to keep Sox in Chicago — except demolishing Guaranteed Rate Field (Chicago Sun-Times)
Bridgeport Ald. Nicole Lee said Tuesday she is determined to keep the White Sox in Chicago — and in the 11th Ward — and “everything should be on the table” with one exception: demolishing Guaranteed Rate Field.
“We, as members of the City Council, need to think about when it’s … fiscally responsible to tear something down that’s perfectly fine in terms of a physical structure … which by today’s standards was built for a steal compared to what costs are today,” said Lee of the stadium that opened in April 1991 for what is now the bargain basement price of $137 million.
Calling the Sox a “huge economic engine for our community and for the city,” Lee said, “We’ve got strong emotional ties to this team. ... I certainly don’t want to see them go. I’m open to the conversation about what would be mutually beneficial for the Sox and our community. … We’re in the first inning of this. We’ve got a lot of games left to play.”
“There are … a lot of opportunities to make it a mutually beneficial situation for the White Sox, the city and our community here in the 11th Ward,” Lee said.
Short of a new stadium, possibilities to sweeten the pot for the Sox include developing the sea of parking lots around Guaranteed Rate Field, Lee said.
“Some of those parking lots are probably underutilized. If there’s anything obvious, all I see is what is the land that is right there.
“We are always looking to develop the 11th Ward in terms of our business corridors. And the Sox are a big part of that. All options are on the table. I don’t want to rule anything out,” Lee said.
“Economic development that brings more people to the community in general that feeds into this economic ecosystem of ours here in the 11th Ward, including this really big stadium that we have, we can absolutely utilize more,” she said.
Related: White Sox ponder move from South Side home (Crain’s Chicago Business)
White Sox moving from Bridgeport would be ‘devastating,’ some businesses say (Chicago Sun-Times)
'It's come to kind of a critical point': Arlington Heights hires lobbyists on Bears tax-break bill (Daily Herald)
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Opinion: Illinois Supreme Court's willful blindness blows hole in state constitution (Champaign News-Gazette)
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Opinion: More experience out the door as incumbents opt out of ’24 campaign (Shaw Media)
Opinion: Despite the naysayers, Illinois has a lot going for it. But yes, we can make the state better. (Chicago Tribune)
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