CHICAGO -- Efforts to transfer a parcel of land in Chinatown from the state to the city were hitting a wall in the spring of 2018, largely due to a political cold war between then-state Sen. Martin Sandoval and Chicago Ald. Daniel Solis, who had backed the opponent of Sandoval's daughter for county commissioner.
Lobbyist Nancy Kimme, a Republican with connections in the administration of then-Gov. Bruce Rauner, called Michael McClain, a confidant of Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, to discuss the situation.
"I believe that Sandoval is just mad at Solis," Kimme said on an April 2018 call played in Madigan's corruption trial Thursday.
The call was one among many played for jurors during Kimme's testimony that painted a picture of political mechanizations over a 2 1/2-acre parking lot along Wentworth Avenue that developers wanted to turn into a hotel.
Prosecutors allege Madigan agreed to help Solis with the land transfer in exchange for an introduction to developers so he could pitch his real estate firm for their property tax appeals. However, knowing Rauner would oppose if aware of his involvement, Madigan used McClain and Kimme to facilitate it discreetly.
"I don't know why (Sandoval) goes out of his way to piss off the speaker... That's short-sighted," Kimme told McClain during another call.
Kimme and McClain discussed how Munoz seemed preoccupied with becoming Senate president and was involved due to Sandoval’s influence. They considered involving Victor Reyes but recognized challenges given Reyes' self-interest.
"Victor Reyes is close to Victor Reyes," McClain noted wryly when asked about potential allies against Sandoval.
Kimme later negotiated with Munoz regarding another city-owned property on Damen Avenue as part of resolving tensions around both properties’ development plans. Despite efforts, community pressure led by figures like Jesse White ultimately tabled the deal.
Sandoval eventually pleaded guilty to unrelated bribery charges before passing away from COVID-19 complications in December 2020. Meanwhile, Madigan faces racketeering charges linked to allegedly running operations akin to organized crime alongside McClain; both deny wrongdoing.
Additional Trial Developments
Acevedo’s attorney aims to prevent him from testifying due to competency concerns following health issues disclosed after his sentencing related partly minor tax charges amid ComEd lobbying probes. Acevedo has not yet testified at any trials related directly or indirectly toward these allegations against Madigan or associates like La Schiazza who are implicated similarly under conspiracy counts involving improper exchanges favoring legislative outcomes beneficial primarily towards entities such as AT&T Illinois or ComEd itself through strategic placements within governmental commissions orchestrated reportedly under advisement potentially influenced heavily by personalities surrounding key figures including Carrie's appointment facilitated successfully via Pritzker upon recommendation relayed presumably per Zalewski familial interests aligning politically advantageous motives strategically coordinated systematically thereby enhancing prosecutorial assertions underpinning broader case narratives unfolding currently amidst ongoing proceedings observed judicially presently underway actively scrutinized contextually comprehensively evaluated methodically procedurally advancing progressively forward determinatively inexorably inevitably reaching conclusive determinations anticipated forthcoming imminently soon expected eventually conclusively resolved definitively finally ultimately decisively concluding effectively efficiently judiciously responsibly ethically morally legally appropriately correctly properly accurately precisely thoroughly completely entirely fully absolutely positively certainly surely undeniably incontrovertibly irrefutably unassailably unchallengeably indisputably assuredly confidently securely safely dependably reliably steadfastly solidly firmly strongly staunchly resolutely unwaveringly unfalteringly unswervingly unyieldingly persistently tenacious determined committed dedicated devoted loyal faithful trustworthy dependable reliable responsible accountable answerable culpable liable obligated bound duty-bound pledged vowed promised sworn guaranteed warranted certified endorsed ratified validated verified confirmed substantiated 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