Mike Madigan trial: Former aide testifies, reveals speaker’s control

CHICAGO - Federal prosecutors in the corruption trial of Michael Madigan are continuing to paint the former Illinois House speaker as a powerful – and sometimes vindictive – leader during his reign.

The only witness to take the stand during Wednesday’s shortened testimony was Will Cousineau, who worked for Madigan for 20 years and held dual capacities as both Madigan’s legislative director and political director.

Cousineau testified that Madigan was extremely involved in all aspects of legislation in Springfield. Cousineau told jurors that as head of the Illinois Democratic Party, Madigan had the ultimate say on controlling campaigns and legislative races, deciding which candidates to back and how much political support they got.

Prosecutors are using Cousineau's testimony to try to convince the jury that Madigan traded on all of that power to benefit himself financially and build and protect his army of political workers.

Prosecutors also played a number of wiretapped phone calls between Cousineau and Michael McClain, Madigan's close friend and now co-defendant. Even though both Cousineau and McClain were both working as lobbyists in 2018, McClain is heard telling Cousineau, "As long as we always remember who our real client is, it's not easy but it mollifies it."

Cousineau then responds, "It's easy to keep your priorities straight if you remember that."

Under questioning, Cousineau testified the "real client" they are heard talking about is Michael Madigan.

Cousineau will be back on the stand when the trial resumes Thursday morning at 9 a.m., testifying more about those phone calls. Later he'll be cross-examined by defense attorneys for Madigan and McClain.