Madigan Confidant, Three Others Plead Not Guilty To Bribery Scheme Charges

A confidant of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and three others are pleading not guilty to charges they orchestrated a bribery scheme with ComEd aimed at influencing the powerful lawmaker.  Retired lobbyist Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, lobbyist and former ComEd executive John Hooker, and consultant Jay Doherty entered their pleas yesterday in Chicago federal court.  All four were indicted last month on charges accusing them of conspiring to provide Madigan associates with jobs and contracts with ComEd in exchange for favorable action in Springfield.  Prosecutors say they will begin producing a large amount of evidence in the case in two to three weeks.