Six months after a scandal erupted over sexual harassment allegations in Springfield in 2018, a longtime ally of then-House Speaker Michael J. Madigan got on the phone with another to float an idea: He wanted to find money for the accused, who had lost his job.
“I’ve tried to put some guys together to kick in a grand each … for six months,” Michael McClain told lobbyist Will Cousineau in August 2018.
They were talking about former 13th Ward worker Kevin Quinn, brother of Ald. Marty Quinn (13th).
“Except for the people that are signing on,” McClain said, “no one else even knows about it. Except for our friend.”
A jury heard a secret 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 the jury that there was some “hesitancy” in his voice on the call, which had not previously been aired in court. But on the recording, he told McClain he wanted to be a “team player.” And he testified that his lobbying firm, Cornerstone Government Affairs, did wind up paying Kevin Quinn.
Cousineau said he felt it was “most appropriate that [Kevin Quinn] do some actual work,” and he stressed that Quinn did so for Cornerstone.
Prosecutors covered a broad range of territory with Cousineau’s testimony Thursday morning. They at times revisited issues from the perjury trial of former Madigan chief of staff Tim Mapes, who was found guilty last year, and the bribery trial of former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza, which ended with a hung jury last month.
But they covered new ground with the recordings of Cousineau and McClain about Kevin Quinn. Political consultant Alaina Hampton accused Kevin Quinn of sexual harassment late in 2017, and she went public with it in 2018, costing Kevin Quinn his job.
The scandal threatened Madigan’s grip on power so much that his aides went looking for a major PR firm for help.
Neither Madigan nor McClain are accused of sexual harassment. But prosecutors say the effort to help Kevin Quinn — and to keep it quiet — amounts to evidence of the criminal enterprise that Madigan allegedly led.
Prosecutors say it was designed to enhance his political power and enrich and “reward” his allies, and that McClain acted as his agent.
Defense attorneys made one last-ditch effort earlier Thursday to block the evidence from coming into the trial.
Madigan attorney Todd Pugh told U.S. District Judge John Blakey that the Quinn episode was a “purely personal situation” — and unlike other allegations that Madigan allies were paid by ComEd and AT&T Illinois to influence Madigan.
But Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu insisted that “this is dead bang” within racketeering allegations in Madigan’s indictment. “No question about it,” he said.
Blakey ultimately agreed, finding defense claims to the contrary “not supported by the record.”
Defense attorneys were expected to cross-examine Cousineau on Thursday afternoon. Prosecutors have also signaled that Hampton herself could be called to the witness stand next week.
In the recordings heard by the jury, McClain suggested to Cousineau that Kevin Quinn wouldn’t have to do any actual work. He said Kevin Quinn could write “a report” to provide cover should authorities ask about the payments.
“In case the IRS checks this out, we would also have a piece of paper of this report he does,” McClain said.
McClain suggested that Madigan was aware of the plan, telling Cousineau that the “Speaker intends to help” Kevin Quinn. Cousineau responded by telling McClain he would look into it but expressed concerns.
“Given the optics of the misconduct I had concerns about … him registering on behalf of our company,” Cousineau testified in court.
On a second call with McClain, Cousineau said he thought he would be able to help.
“Better than the bulls— reports, if I can use him for five or six things,” Cousineau said on the recording, he would find him real work.
Cousineau told the jury that he felt uncomfortable with the suggested arraignment by McClain saying, “If my employer was paying him, I’d want him to do work .. I could use the help.”
McClain responded that he’d have the contract with Cousineau “be different” than others who were being asked to contribute to Kevin Quinn.
On the same call, McClain suggested that Cousineau should consider starting another company that he could keep funds in to hire people if asked to do so by Madigan.
“At one point in time, I had maybe five consultants working for me and all they did was give me pieces of paper,” McClain said on the recording, adding that the separate account would help Cousineau be flexible.
“If he comes to you and says, ‘ I really need some help,’” McClain said, adding. “Every two years he’s got somebody he gotta take care of for a month or two.”
Cousineau told the jury that “he” referred to speaker Madigan. Cousineau said he had initially been talking with McClain about starting a separate company that he could provide campaign contributions through.
“I believe I raised the idea of political contributions, but then he talked about creating it to hire individuals that might get requested by the speaker,” Cousineau said.