Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s defense attorney delivered closing arguments, questioning the credibility of star witness Danny Solis. Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain face 23 counts of racketeering,

Michael Madigan’s defense team has begun closing arguments at the former Illinois House speaker’s corruption trial in Chicago. Madigan attorney Dan Collins opened Friday afternoon by quoting his client,

Attorneys for Michael Madigan opened their final bid to persuade jurors of his innocence by hearkening back to a memorable nickname for the former speaker: the Sphinx.

Thursday marked the second day of closing arguments in the speaker’s landmark racketeering and bribery trial, as prosecutors continued detailing the five corruption schemes Madigan allegedly orchestrated.

In his testimony earlier this month, former House Speaker Michael Madigan cast himself as a champion of the working class, a consensus-builder who used his power to bring people together on legislation and protect constituents from greedy utilities and corporations.

Madigan's defense attorney Dan Collins, when he began his own closing arguments Friday afternoon, rebutted that the government's case wasn't as strong as it would like the jurors to believe. He argued it relied on jurors' cynicism regarding politicians to fill in evidentiary gaps.

Closing arguments continued Thursday in the federal corruption trial of longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan

Madigan, 82, and his co-defendant, political ally and confidant Michael McClain, are accused of running a criminal enterprise designed to enrich the former speaker and his associates and increase his political power.