Defense attorneys’ aggressive questioning of a star witness in the trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan opened the door to testimony Thursday about criminal charges that were leveled against ComEd and three people with close ties to the utility.Jurors now know that former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, ex-ComEd lobbyist John Hooker, onetime City Club President Jay Doherty and even ComEd itself faced charges, based in part on the undercover FBI work of former ComEd executive Fidel Marquez.The jury still doesn't know what came of any of those charges. And they don’t know that Madigan’s longtime ally and current co-defendant, Michael McClain, was also among those charged. Related Defense hammers star Madigan witness on gun form gaffe, divorce, memory, motive: ‘Did you really believe that?’ But defense attorneys in Madigan’s trial had hoped to keep all of it from the jury. When prosecutors asked for permission to walk through that door early Thursday, Madigan defense attorney Daniel Collins protested and acknowledged only that there had been a “light” cross-examination of Marquez.Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu countered that there had been a “wholesale attack” on Marquez’s credibility. U.S. District Judge John Blakey agreed, telling the lawyers it had been “anything but a light cross-examination.”Minutes later, jurors heard about the charges. They learned that Marquez previously testified against the three officials. And they were told Marquez was prepared to help prosecute ComEd.That’s how Marquez’s sixth, and final, day on the witness stand in Madigan’s trial came to an end. Marquez has now testified in two trials — and wore a wire for the FBI — while hoping to avoid prison. Former ComEd executive Fidel Marquez (right) with his lawyer at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse on Friday, April 5, 2024.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times He pleaded guilty to a bribery conspiracy in 2020, and he has yet to be sentenced.McClain, Pramaggiore, Hooker and Doherty were convicted of a bribery scheme at trial in 2023, based in part on Marquez’s testimony against them. ComEd struck a deal with prosecutors and agreed to work with the feds. A judge in 2023 tossed a bribery charge filed against the utility under the terms of that deal.While jurors don’t know those results, they’ll now be aware that criminal charges were leveled against some of the people they’ve been hearing so much about. Clockwise from upper left: Michael McClain, Anne Pramaggiore, Jay Doherty, John HookerSun-Times Bhachu sought to give them that information after a full day of cross-examination Wednesday. Lawyers questioned Marquez about a false answer he gave while trying to buy a gun, legal trouble in his divorce, and his deal with prosecutors.That prompted Bhachu to argue Thursday morning that “the witness’ credibility was attacked yesterday, obviously, as being untruthful,” and he sought permission to ask Marquez about his cooperation beyond Madigan’s trial.Defense attorneys sought ahead of trial to keep such information from the jurors. They moved to block testimony about the convictions, ComEd’s deal, or other corruption trials in Chicago. And none of that has been revealed so far. Trial highlights Trial highlightsJurors heard about criminal charges against ComEd officials.Fidel Marquez’s testimony ended after six days.Michael’s Madigan was heard discussing a job for state Rep. Jaime Andrade Jr.’s wife. But attorneys outlined their concerns, writing that “the jury could easily conclude or speculate that because Mr. McClain and other defendants in the ComEd case were convicted … [Madigan and McClain] must be guilty of the offenses charged in this case.”The briefs also reveal that prosecutors warned it all “may be relevant … if defendants open the door during the cross-examination of [ex-Ald. Danny] Solis or other witnesses such as Marquez.”Like Marquez, Solis wore a wire for the FBI to avoid prison. Prosecutors say he could take the stand as early as next week. Related Former Ald. Danny Solis set to testify as feds outline Michael Madigan’s corruption trial Madigan and McClain are on trial for a racketeering conspiracy. Madigan is accused of leading a criminal enterprise designed to enhance his political power and enrich his allies, with McClain acting as his agent.A key pillar of the case involves the alleged ComEd bribery conspiracy. Prosecutors say five Madigan allies were paid $1.3 million by ComEd over eight years, largely as subcontractors for Doherty, so that Madigan would look favorably at its legislative agenda.But the feds are also offering evidence of a broader criminal enterprise, which allegedly aimed to “financially reward Madigan’s political allies.” To that end, prosecutors played a new wiretap recording Thursday featuring state Rep. Jaime Andrade Jr., D-Chicago.In a call with McClain on July 2, 2018, Madigan explained that “Jaime Andrade came to me and — same story — he needs money. Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen Federal Courthouse on Oct. 21, 2024.Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times “And he had the thought that maybe I could help his wife on something,” Madigan said.The speaker told McClain that “one thought I had was with Jay Doherty … Not necessarily with ComEd.”Andrade’s wife wound up landing a job with Secretary of State Jesse White’s office instead. Jurors heard about it on another call between McClain and Andrade on Aug. 29, 2018.“She can learn a lot in that role,” McClain told Andrade. “If she can just keep it at least for three or four years, so she learns all the mumbo jumbo of all the magic words … Unless she wants to stay in public service, she has an opportunity to go elsewhere and make even more money.”Andrade called it a “good chance to learn.”And eventually, he said, “thank you again, Mr. McClain.”