It’s been a week since Fidel Márquez first took the stand as a star witness in the corruption trial of the former speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. Michael J. MadiganBut only on Tuesday did defense attorneys finally have a chance to begin breaking down their testimony.

Former ComEd executive who was wired for the FBI has been the only witness Madigan jurors have heard from since Nov. 5. He has since testified about recordings he made of Madigan ally Michael McClain and others, and told the jury that people got jobs by doing nothing at ComEd then Madigan would look favorably on the usefulness.

But on Tuesday, Marquez’s fourth day on the witness stand, he faced approximately three and a half hours of cross-examination by McClain’s defense attorney, Patrick Cotter. His last confrontation ended with fireworks inside a separate room, during a previous trial.

Cotter could eventually be on track to repeat his performance. But this time, the defense attorney began trying to methodically rehabilitate his client, pointing out McClain’s value as a ComEd lobbyist and trying to cast doubt on the feds’ case.

Cotter will resume that effort Wednesday, and Madigan’s attorneys will take their turn when Cotter is done.

Madigan and McClain are on trial for an alleged extortion conspiracy. Madigan, who resigned in 2021, is accused of leading a criminal enterprise designed to increase his political power and enrich his allies, with McClain acting as his agent.

File by Anthony Vázquez/Sun-Times

McClain has already been convicted for their role in the plan, along with former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker, and former City Club president Jay Doherty. Márquez also testified during his trial, which ended in May 2023.

Cotter questioned Marquez one last time during that trial, dramatically pressing him about his decision to wear a wire for the FBI. Marquez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bribe in 2020, and hopes to avoid jail time by cooperating with prosecutors.

Early in his latest questioning Tuesday, Cotter pressed Marquez on whether the former ComEd executive believed he helped conspire to “trade” or “swap” jobs. for Madigan to take action. Marquez repeated his claim that he arranged the hiring of Madigan allies so the speaker would “look favorably” on ComEd.

“For me, seeing him favorably is an action,” Márquez testified.

Prosecutors have done everything they can to show constant communication between Madigan and McClain through secret FBI recordings and testimonies from several witnesses. But Cotter noted that McClain’s job, as a lobbyist, was to know what special interests were motivating Madigan, as well as the political dynamics at any given time.

“Is the amount of attention a lobbyist devotes or pays to an elected official often based on how important that official is, in the political sense?” Cotter asked, taking note of Madigan’s vast power over the Legislature at the time.

“That may be a factor,” Márquez said.

Cotter also confirmed with Márquez that, as vice president of external and government affairs, Marquez was “ultimately in charge of all the lobbyists” at ComEd. In theory, that would include a group of Madigan allies paid as subcontractors through a ComEd contract with Doherty.

“At any point during that time, did you ever call Mr. Doherty and give those subcontractors an assignment: work to do?” Cotter asked.

Marquez said no.