The outcome of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s corruption trial will be watched closely well beyond the federal courthouse, with the verdict representing a potential

Madigan and his co-defendant – longtime confidant Michael McClain – are on trial on racketeering and bribery charges​.

Madigan, the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history, was charged with bribery, racketeering, wire fraud, and other crimes.

Lawyers for former House Speaker Michael Madigan formally rested their case before the jury on Thursday after calling 12 witnesses, most notably Madigan himself. And prosecutors also rested after a short rebuttal case.

Jurors were released before noon Thursday with instructions to come back on Wednesday to hear instructions and closing arguments, which are slated to stretch over three days.

Electing to take the stand in a move that shocked many, Madigan testified, in total, for about six hours.

Ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan is set to return to the stand Wednesday morning, continuing testimony that will surely be some of the most crucial and closely examined of the bombshell public corruption trial.

Defense attorneys for ex-Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan rested their case in the once-powerful politician's federal corruption trial on Thursday. Less than an hour later, federal prosecutors had concluded their own single-witness rebuttal.