Former ComEd CEO, lobbyist to be released from prison, granted new trial
Former ComEd chief executive officer Anne Pramaggiore and lobbyist Michael McClain have both been ordered released from prison on appeal bonds, as a federal appeals court announced it will be granting them a new trial just hours after hearing arguments in their case.
A panel from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday ruled that Pramaggiore will be granted an appeal bond pending a new trial on charges of conspiracy, bribery, and falsifying documents.
"Our opinion granting a new trial will follow," the court's order states.
McClain was also given bond, on the grounds that he was not likely to pose a flight risk or danger to anyone's safety, and because his "appeal raises a substantial question that will result in an order for a new trial," the court's order added.
The pair were convicted as part of the so-called "ComEd Four" trial in 2023, accused of conspiring to bribe former House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Prosecutors accused McClain, Pramaggiore, retired ComEd vice president John Hooker, and former consultant Jay Doherty of using their influence to reward former Illinois House Speaker Madigan and his associates for about eight years beginning in 2011. In return, prosecutors said Madigan would help them pass legislation beneficial to ComEd.
Sentencing was delayed as the defendants tried to get a federal judge to dismiss all charges against them after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that narrowed the scope for federal criminal anti-corruption laws, but that bid did not work.
Last July, Pramaggiore and McClain both were sentenced to two years in prison. Hooker was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in the case and Doherty was sentenced to 1 year. Neither Hooker nor Doherty appealed their convictions and have already been released from prison.
CBS News Chicago Legal Analyst Irv Miller said the same-day decision from the appellate court to grant Pramaggiore and McClain a new trial is extremely rare, and could have implications for Madigan's appeal of his own conviction.
"I think it's a very good decision for Mike Madigan. He couldn't have hoped for a better day than what occurred in the 7th Circuit today. Although he was not a party to the action today, the reasoning applies also in his case. It's not exactly the same factual or legal situation, but it's enough where the three judges that heard the case last week, that haven't decided the case yet, may influence them to make a ruling that could favor the former speaker," Miller said.
In a separate case, Madigan himself was convicted in February 2025 of 10 corruption counts — including bribery conspiracy, bribery, and wire fraud — but acquitted him on seven other charges, while jurors were deadlocked on six other counts, following a four-month trial accusing him of running a yearslong criminal enterprise to enrich himself and his political allies.
Madigan was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison in June. His high-powered attorneys have petitioned the same appeals court to overturn his conviction.
McClain was also a defendant in the Madigan case, but the jury deadlocked on the charges against him.
Miller said it will be up to federal prosecutors to decide whether or not to follow through with a second trial for Pramaggiore and McClain. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's office in Chicago declined to comment.
