Overview
- The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which issued orders Tuesday, granted appeal bonds to former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and lobbyist Michael McClain.
- The court ordered a new trial for Pramaggiore and said McClain’s appeal raises a substantial question likely to lead to a new trial.
- During arguments Tuesday, Judges Thomas Kirsch, Joshua Kolar and David Hamilton pressed prosecutors on how the conspiracy verdict could stand if jurors relied on a now-invalid bribery theory.
- Both defendants were serving two-year sentences, and co-defendants John Hooker and Jay Doherty did not appeal and are now in halfway houses.
- The case stems from about $1.3 million ComEd routed to five allies of then–House Speaker Michael Madigan over eight years, and Madigan’s separate conviction is now on appeal before another panel.