Mistrial declared for ex-AT&T exec in Madigan bribery case

The trial of former AT&T President Paul La Schiazza concluded with a hung jury, as he faced accusations of bribing former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Prosecutors alleged that La Schiazza paid Madigan's associates thousands of dollars through contracts that required little to no work. This arrangement was purportedly in exchange for Madigan's support in passing legislation that would allow AT&T to terminate its landline service obligations, a move projected to save the company millions. From 2010 to 2015, AT&T sought legislation to ease its responsibilities regarding landline services. After initial efforts stalled in 2015, the company renewed its push in 2017. During this time, an email from a Madigan associate requested a small contract for a Madigan ally, which La Schiazza later facilitated. He expressed willingness to pay the ally through an intermediary, ensuring that AT&T would receive credit for the transaction. The payments to the Madigan ally totaled $22,500, coinciding with Madigan's favorable votes on the legislation. After the governor vetoed the bill, Madigan voted to override the veto, leading to the legislation's eventual passage. The case against La Schiazza raises significant questions about the intersection of corporate lobbying and political influence in Illinois. While La Schiazza's trial ended without a verdict, there remains the possibility of a retrial in the future. However, this would likely occur after Madigan's own trial, which is scheduled for next month, potentially impacting the legal landscape surrounding these allegations.