Jury selection began Tuesday in the trial of former AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza, who faces federal charges for allegedly bribing former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for favorable legislation. The case is part of a broader corruption investigation, following the conviction of four Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) executives and lobbyists last year for a similar scheme involving jobs and contracts for Madigan's allies over nearly a decade. Prosecutors accuse La Schiazza of participating in a smaller-scale bribery, funneling payments to former Democratic state Rep. Eddie Acevedo, a subcontractor lobbyist for ComEd. The trial is the final one before Madigan's own bribery and racketeering trial, scheduled to begin on October 8.

This high-profile case continues to shed light on long-standing corruption within Illinois politics, potentially influencing the landscape of corporate-government relations moving forward.