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Madigan jury hears how allies raised money for aide fired over sexual harassment allegations

Madigan jury hears how allies raised money for aide fired over sexual harassment allegations

Six months after sexual harassment allegations erupted in Springfield in 2018, a longtime ally of then-House Speaker Michael J. Madigan spoke on the phone with another to pitch an idea: he wanted to find money for a defendant who had lost his job.

“I was trying to get a bunch of guys together to make a thousand each … for six months,” Michael McClain said lobbyist Will Cousineau in August 2018.

They were talking about former 13th Precinct operative Kevin Quinn, Ald’s brother. Marty Quinn (13th).

“Other than the people who sign up,” McClain said, “nobody else even knows about it. Apart from our friend.”

Jurors heard a classified FBI recording of that phone call Thursday. Madigan and McClain are on trial for a racketeering conspiracy. Jurors have already been told that McClain used “our friend” as code for Madigan. And from the witness stand, Cousineau said that was his understanding as well.

Cousineau insisted to jurors that there was some “hesitation” in his voice during the call, which was not previously played in court. But he told McClain during the taping that he wanted to be a “team player.” And he testified that his lobbying firm, Cornerstone Government Affairs paid Kevin Quinn.

Cousineau said he thought it would “make the most sense for (Kevin Quinn) to do some real work,” and he emphasized that Quinn did that for Cornerstone.

Prosecutors covered a wide range of territory Thursday morning with Cousineau’s testimony. They occasionally returned to the perjury trial of former Madigan chief of staff Tim Mapes, who was convicted last year, and the bribery trial of former AT&T Illinois president Paul LaSchiazza, which ended in an indefinite jury trial last month.

But they broke new ground by signing Cousin and McClain on Kevin Quinn. Political consultant Alaina Hampton accused Kevin Quinn of sexual harassment in late 2017 and went public in 2018, costing Kevin Quinn his job.

The scandal threatened Madigan’s power so much that his aides began to seek help from a large PR firm.

Neither Madigan nor McClain have been accused of sexual harassment. But prosecutors say the effort to help Kevin Quinn — and cover it up — is evidence of criminal activity that Madigan allegedly ran.

Prosecutors say it was designed to enhance his political power and enrich and “reward” his allies, and that McClain acted as his agent.

Earlier Thursday, defense attorneys made a last-ditch effort to block the evidence from going to trial.

Madigan’s attorney, Todd Pugh, told U.S. District Judge John Blakey that the Quinn episode was “purely a personal situation” — and unlike the other allegations, Madigan’s allies received money from ComEd and AT&T Illinois to influence Madigan.

But Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjit Bhachu insisted that Madigan’s indictment “is an unfortunate blow” to the racketeering charges. “There’s no doubt about it,” he said.

Blakey eventually agreed, finding the defense’s contention to the contrary “unsupported by the record.”

Defense attorneys are expected to question Cousineau Thursday afternoon. Prosecutors also said Hampton herself could be called to the witness stand next week.

In the tapes heard by jurors, McClain suggested to Cousineau that Kevin Quinn would not have to do any real work. He said Kevin Quinn could write a “report” to provide coverage if authorities asked about the payments.

“If the IRS audits it, we’ll also have a sheet of that report that it does,” McClain said.

McClain suggested that Madigan knew about the plan, telling Cousineau that “the speaker intends to help” Kevin Quinn. Cousineau responded by telling McClain he would look into it, but expressed concern.

“Given the misconduct, I had concerns about … his registration on behalf of our company,” Cousineau testified in court.

During the second conversation with McClain, Cousineau said he thought he could help.

“Better than the bullpen, reportedly, if I can use him for five or six things,” Cousino said on the tape, he’ll find him a real job.

Cousineau told jurors he felt uncomfortable with McClain’s accusation: “If my employer was paying him, I would want him to work. . . . I would need help.”

McClain responded that his Cousineau contract “will be different” than others who have been asked to contribute to Kevin Quinn.

During the same call, McClain suggested that Cousineau consider setting up another company where he could keep funds to hire people if Madigan asked.

“At one point, I had maybe five consultants working for me, and all they did was give me pieces of paper,” McClain said during the taping, adding that the separate account would help Cousino be flexible.

“If he comes to you and says, ‘I really need help,'” McClain said, adding. “Every two years he has someone he has to take care of for a month or two.”

Cousineau told jurors that “he” was referring to Speaker Madigan. Cousineau said he initially spoke with McClain about setting up a separate company through which he could make campaign contributions.

“I think I brought up the idea of ​​political contributions, but then he talked about setting it up to hire people that the speaker might invite,” Cousineau said.