Rockford Sun

Rep. Joe Sosnowski provided an update on the trial of Michael McClain, a confidant of former House Speaker Michael Madigan. Sosnowski stated that McClain "is set to go on trial with him on Oct. 8, on racketeering, bribery, fraud, and attempted extortion charges, but his lawyers argue that Madigan's apparent defense strategy involves blaming McClain." He made this statement in a July 22 Facebook post.

"Michael McClain, a longtime confidant of ex-Speaker Mike Madigan, is set to go on trial with him Oct. 8 on racketeering, bribery, fraud and attempted extortion charges, but his lawyers argue that Madigan's apparent defense strategy involved blaming McClain," said Sosnowski, State Representative, according to Facebook. "Michael McClain's lawyers want him tried separately from ex-House Speaker Madigan."

In his Facebook post, Sosnowski shared a link to a Chicago Sun-Times article about McClain’s attempt to sever his trial from the former House Speaker’s trial. According to the article, McClain’s lawyers wrote: "Mr. McClain will be in effect prosecuted by ambush by a team of prosecutors who will be able to spring otherwise undisclosed testimony, witnesses, and exhibits against him throughout the trial."

Screenshot of State Rep. Joe Sosnowski's July 22 Facebook post | State Representative Joe Sosnowski Facebook page

McClain, 76, was an Illinois lawmaker for a decade before becoming a lobbyist and Madigan ally. His sentencing in the trial where he was found guilty on nine federal charges in the bribery trial of the so-called ComEd Four had been on hold awaiting a Supreme Court ruling in an Indiana public corruption case. In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that "the federal bribery law aimed at state and local officials does not criminalize after-the-fact rewards known as ‘gratuities,’" according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

McClain was one of four individuals referred to as the "ComEd Four" who were found guilty in a political bribery case in May 2023. He was convicted on nine counts, according to a WTTW report. McClain is also facing a separate racketeering and bribery trial.

The state suspended McClain’s pension after his federal conviction in the ComEd bribery trial. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that he was part of a scheme by ComEd to bribe then-Speaker Michael Madigan to support the power company’s agenda. Since retiring in 2002, McClain has received more than $300,000 in pension payments.

Sosnowski has represented Illinois since being elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2010. He now represents the 69th District. His political career began with a stint on the DeKalb City Council before moving to Rockford and serving as First Ward Alderman from 2005-2010. He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University, according to his official biography.