The federal jury in the trial of former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza continued deliberations on whether he entered a corrupt deal during his tenure. La Schiazza, accused of orchestrating bribe payments to an ally of then-House Speaker Michael Madigan, is facing charges that could result in serious prison time if convicted. The jury, composed of four men and eight women, resumed their discussion at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse Wednesday morning, as reported by Chicago Tribune.
After returning to continue their deliberations, the jury's inquiry to U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman on whether intent alone establishes the grounds for bribery indicates a deep dive into the subtleties of the law. The judge's response, a reiteration of the elements of bribery counts, suggests the complexity of the case has not been lost on this jury. La Schiazza, who faces charges of conspiracy, federal program bribery, and using a facility in interstate commerce to facilitate unlawful activity, has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. According to NBC Chicago, the most serious counts carry up to 20 years in prison if the 66-year-old is convicted.
Prosecutors have alleged that La Schiazza was involved in directing payments totaling $22,500, funneled through a lobbyist's firm, to retiring state Rep. Eddie Acevedo for minimal work. The goal was reportedly to curry favor with Madigan for legislative success on a bill that would relieve AT&T of certain costly obligations and could potentially save the company hundreds of millions. "It shorted the people of Illinois, who deserved a fair, transparent and honest legislative process," Assistant U.S. Attorney Sushma Raju stated in the closing arguments, as obtained by the Chicago Tribune.
In contrast, La Schiazza's defense has argued that there has been a critical lack of evidence to support the prosecution's claim of bribery. The defense suggested that AT&T's intentions were lawful and within the bounds of standard corporate-political interactions. "This was no bribe. … The government failed to meet its burden. It wasn’t even close," defense attorney Tinos Diamantatos conveyed to the jury. As deliberations continue, the outcome of this case is poised to set a precedent in how lobbying efforts and corporate influence are interpreted and judged in the eyes of the law, which could impact not just the fate of La Schiazza, but potentially delineate the limits of corporate-political interactions henceforward.
Michael Madigan, labeled as "King Madigan" in La Schiazza's emails, and his associate Michael McClain are both awaiting their own trials, set to begin on October 8. They have been charged with racketeering, reflecting allegations similar to those faced by La Schiazza, alleging cronyism and corruption in their control over Illinois’ political machinery, an assessment drawn from La Schiazza's trial.
