* Tribune…
Jurors in the Michael Madigan corruption trial on Monday got their first look at a secretly recorded video of the then-powerful House speaker soliciting business for his law firm from the developer of a Chinatown hotel project.
“We’re not looking for a quick killing here,” Madigan said near the end of the August 2014 meeting, which was recorded on a hidden camera by developer See Wong, who was cooperating with the FBI. “We’re interested in a long term relationship.”
The video was played during the testimony of former Ald. Daniel Solis, the then-head of the City Council’s Zoning Committee, who told the jury he’d arranged the meeting at Madigan’s request.
At the time, Solis was not cooperating. In fact, the meeting took place nearly two years before the FBI confronted him with evidence of his own wrongdoing, leading to Solis’ decision to go undercover himself.
* Sun-Times…
Solis says that Chinese developer Kin Kuong Chong — introduced to him by See Wong — wanted to build a “franchise Best Western hotel” in Chinatown across Wentworth from Chinatown Square, just north of the Red Line parking lot.
MacArthur shows jurors a picture of the parking lot. Solis testifies that Madigan reached out to him about Chong, asking “if I could bring Mr. Chong over for a meeting so he could make a presentation.” “
I complied,” Solis says. “Were you aware that one of the participants [of the meeting], See Wong, was audio and video recording the meeting?” MacArthur asks.
“No,” Solis says. […]
A key comment from that second part of the meeting came from Solis, who said Chong “will get anything he needs for that hotel” by working with Madigan on his real estate tax bill.
* FOX Chicago…
Solis testified he told the Chinese developer there was no better firm than Madigan’s and if he gave Madigan the real estate tax business, then Solis would make sure the Zoning Change would happen. And it did pass.
The developer said he would contribute to a fundraiser to re-elect Solis.
Madigan’s attorney said the tapes prove that Solis was the real criminal, trading favors, accepting bribes, taking payoffs.
Solis testified he told the Chinese developer to do business with Madigan because the speaker can get anything he wants when it comes to state government. The hotel was never built.
* Dave Byrnes from Courthouse News is covering the trial on Bluesky…
* The Sun-Times’ federal courts reporter Jon Seidel…
* The Tribune’s Jason Meisner…
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