Categories: U.S.

Trial opens for Tim Mapes, former chief of staff for Michael Madigan: Prosecutor claims Mapes lied under oath

close Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for August 10

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what’s clicking on Foxnews.com.

The trial of a former chief of staff to longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan opened Wednesday with a federal prosecutor arguing that the defendant lied under oath to a grand jury to protect his boss.

The 68-year-old Tim Mapes, who served for almost two decades as Madigan’s chief of staff, faces single counts of perjury and attempted obstruction of justice. A conviction on the obstruction count alone carries up to 20 years in prison.

Mapes lied repeatedly when he testified in 2021 to a grand jury investigating Madigan and others. In opening statements, the prosecutor told jurors Mapes specifically lied when he said he couldn’t recall any relevant details about Madigan’s ties to Michael McClain, who was a Madigan confidant, the Chicago Tribune reported.

CHICAGO INMATE BEATEN TO DEATH IN HOSPITAL WING OF COOK COUNTY JAIL

“The defendant lied. Not just once but again and again and again, to prevent the grand jury from finding out” what Madigan, a Democrat, was up to, prosecutor Diane MacArthur said.

Federal jurors in May convicted four defendants of bribery conspiracy involving the state’s largest electric utility. Prosecutors said McClain, two former ComEd executives and a former utility consultant arranged contracts, jobs and money for associates of Madigan’s to ensure proposed bills boosting ComEd profits became law.

Tim Mapes, the chief of staff to former Illinois House Speaker Madigan, is shown at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois, on Oct. 4, 2007. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File)

For decades, the 81-year-old Madigan was one of the most powerful state legislative leaders in the nation. Then in 2022, he was indicted on charges that included racketeering and bribery.

SUSPECT IDENTIFIED IN SHOOTING OF CHICAGO GIRL, 8; MAN WAS REPORTEDLY UPSET OVER NOISE

A year before his indictment and amid speculation that he was a federal target, he resigned from the Legislature as the longest-serving state House speaker in modern U.S. history.

In her opening Monday, defense lawyer Katie Hill told jurors Mapes never intentionally misled the grand jury, saying he simply couldn’t remember many details about which he was asked.

Hill likened the questions Mapes was asked to a pop quiz at a high school reunion. She asked jurors if they’d be able to remember the color of their prom corsages or who was class president their junior year, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

“Tim Mapes did not lie in the grand jury,” Hill said. “He did not attempt to obstruct justice.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The first prosecution witness Monday was a former House Majority Leader Greg Harris, a Democrat from Chicago, who explained to jurors how state government works. He also described the power Madigan yielded as speaker.

Madigan has denied any wrongdoing.

The indictment accused Madigan, among other things, of reaping the benefits of private legal work that was illegally steered to his law firm.

Share

Recent Posts

The losers and winners of Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariff plan

President Donald Trump unveiled his latest tariff plan last week on "Liberation Day," which the…

2 hours ago

Trump, Musk, face blame for setbacks, but are Wisconsin, Florida elections crystal ball for 2026 midterms?

Democrats are celebrating a larger-than-expected victory in a high-profile and historically expensive election in battleground…

2 hours ago

GOP congressman says Signal leak was ‘obviously’ a mistake, defers to president to determine consequences

GOP Rep. Marlin Stutzman told Fox News Digital that the recent Signal leak debacle was…

2 hours ago

Left-wing movie director Oliver Stone rips Democrats’ ‘lying’ Russiagate probe against Trump

Left-wing movie director Oliver Stone slammed Democrats for weaponizing federal law enforcement and "lying" in…

2 hours ago

Pope appears in St. Peter’s Square for first time in weeks

close Video Pope Francis appears in public after weeks of sickness Pope Francis appeared in…

4 hours ago

Hamas terror outlet quietly cuts Gaza death count, reveals most killed were combat-age men

close Video Israel Goes Back on Offense Big difference this time is Netanyahu has Trump's…

4 hours ago