The former general counsel for ComEd testified that he was pressured by associates of then-House Speaker Michael Madigan to hire and later renew a contract for a clout-heavy law firm.
; John Hooker, a former ComEd lobbyist; and Jay Doherty, a former ComEd lobbyist and longtime president of the City Club of Chicago.
According to O’Neill, Pramaggiore developed a strategy that would reduce the company’s reliance on the Illinois Commerce Commission and focus more on the legislature, and that to execute the plan, it was “important” to keep good relations with the speaker. “Sometimes Mike gave without being asked, but that’s the nature of the game,” O’Neill testified, as McClain, seated at one end of a long defense table, chuckled softly.In addition, Pramaggiore kept Hooker, a longtime Madigan associate, working for ComEd as a contract lobbyist once he retired around 2012, saying she didn’t want to lose his “counsel and support” because the utility had more to do, O’Neill testified.
“My mood was one of utter exhaustion, but also celebration,” O’Neill said. “It was a huge win for ComEd.” In her response, Pramaggiore said she was forever grateful McClain was defeated back then, because he would later work for her.O’Neill testified that the idea to hire Reyes’ law firm was first floated around the time ComEd was negotiating the smart grid legislation in 2011.
Under persistent pressure to get a contract done, O’Neill said he moved forward. “I wanted to just get it done so I didn’t have to deal with it,” he testified. McClain’s defense lawyer, Patrick Cotter, sought to play down that comment, getting Rita to acknowledge Madigan didn’t use physical violence or a gun to pressure lawmakers.
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