Former ComEd Execs, Consultants Charged In Bribery Scheme

CHICAGO, IL — Four former ComEd executives were indicted Wednesday on allegations they orchestrated a bribery scheme to curry favor with House Speaker Michael Madigan. All four are charged with conspiracy, bribery and willfully falsifying ComEd books and records in exchange for the speaker’s help with state legislation.

They are Michael McClain, 73, of Quincy; former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggirore, 62, of Barrington; lobbyist and former ComEd executive vice president John Hooker, 71, of Chicago; and Jay Doherty 67, who owned a firm that provided consulting services for ComEd.

The U.S. attorney's office alleges that "former Commonwealth Edison executives, including the former Chief Executive Officer, conspired with outside consultants to corruptly influence and reward a high-level elected official for the State of Illinois to assist with the passage of legislation favorable to the electric utility company."

Earlier this year, ComEd agreed to pay $200 million restitution for their part in the alleged bribery scheme. Madigan, 78, has not been charged and prosecutors have not identified him by name. Court documents refer to "Public Official A," but prosecutors make clear that "Public Official A was the Speaker of the House of Representatives and an elected member of that body."

The indictments filed Wednesday accuse the four defendants of using their influence to reward "Public Official A" by arranging for jobs and contracts for the official's political allies and workers, often in jobs that "involved little or no work."

The defendants are also accused of creating false contracts, invoices and other books and records to disguise the true nature of some payments and to circumvent internal controls at ComEd.

The U.S. Attorney's office said the four individuals began efforts to influence and reward Madigan in 2011, continuing through 2019.

In addition to the jobs and contracts, the indictment alleges the four defendants made other efforts to influence and reward Madigan, including causing ComEd to retain a particular outside law firm favored by the speaker, and to accept into ComEd’s internship program a certain amount of students who resided in the Chicago ward associated with Madigan.

Pramaggiore and McClain are also accused of having an individual appointed to ComEd’s Board of Directors at the request of Madigan and McClain, according to the indictment.

Madigan has denied any wrongdoing, but fellow Democrats Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth have called on him to step down as leader of the party.

On Thursday, Pritzker echoed is call for Madigan to step down and said the speaker should answer to the public about the allegations.

"Written statements and dodged investigative hearings aren’t going to cut it," he said. "We are all overwhelmed with decisions of life and death and economic distress. The people of Illinois do not deserve a political circus on top of that."

In a statement sent to the State Journal-Register, a defiant Madigan denied any wrongdoing.

"After lengthy investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s office has charged, but of course has not proven, that certain ComEd employees, consultants and lobbyists allegedly conspired with one another in the hope of somehow influencing me in my official capacity," Madigan said. "Let me be clear: if that attempt ever happened, it was never made known to me. If it had been known to me, it would have been profoundly unwelcome."

The House speaker added, "If there was credible evidence that I engaged in criminal misconduct, which I most certainly did not, I would be charged with a crime. But I have not, and with good reason ... "