Jurors in the perjury trial of Tim Mapes, the ousted chief of staff for Democratic ex-Speaker Michael Madigan, will not hear the name of a onetime campaign aide who accused a longtime Madigan lieutenant of sexual harassment, a federal judge ruled Monday.
The decision was one of a flurry of rulings just before jury selection for Mapes, who is accused of lying to grand jurors in an attempt to obstruct the sweeping federal corruption case against Madigan.
U.S. District Judge John Kness also ruled that jurors could hear recordings of a conversation with another member of Madigan’s inner circle concerning a parcel of land in Chinatown and an alleged scheme to bring business to Madigan’s property-tax law firm.
Jury selection began Monday morning after extensive discussion of Kness’s rulings; opening statements are slated for Tuesday.
Mapes, 68, of Springfield has pleaded not guilty to both the perjury and attempted obstruction counts. The latter charge calls for up to 20 years in federal prison, while lying to a grand jury carries a five-year maximum prison sentence.
According to prosecutors, Mapes lied repeatedly in his March 31, 2021, grand jury testimony in an ill-fated attempt to protect his longtime boss, claiming he couldn’t recall anything relevant about Madigan’s relationship with longtime confidante Michael McClain.
While Mapes may not be a household name outside the state’s political circles, his indictment marked an intriguing power play by the U.S. attorney’s office...
Addressing a media briefing, Edirimanne said it had come to light that certain information provided about the youth, identified as Amila Nirmal, was inaccurate. He stated that the SLPP welcomes al...