Illinois speaker’s friend, 3 others enter bribery case pleas

CHICAGO — Four people, including a close friend of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, entered not guilty pleas Wednesday in a federal bribery case alleging a scheme with the state’s largest utility in which they provided do-nothing jobs to Madigan loyalists in exchange for the speaker’s help with legislation.The four, who were indicted last month on bribery and conspiracy charges, appeared via video conference before U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber because of the […]