Ex-House speaker Michael Madigan, formerly the most powerful man in Illinois politics, “conspired to enhance and preserve (his) power and line his pockets” for years, prosecutors said at the outset of marathon closing arguments in Madigan’s corruption trial.

Prosecutors began wrapping up their final summations Friday on Day 3 of closing arguments in the former speaker’s landmark trial by presenting an overview of how the various bribery and corruption schemes alleged in the government’s 23-charge indictment all come together under count one: racketeering conspiracy.

In his testimony earlier this month, former House Speaker Michael Madigan cast himself as a champion of the working class, a consensus-builder who used his power to bring people together on legislation and protect constituents from greedy utilities and corporations.

Some Illinois lawmakers are expressing hope that the General Assembly will get serious about ethics reform in 2025. Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, is the latest in a long line of state politicians to go on trial for alleged corruption.

Madigan, 82, and his co-defendant, political ally and confidant Michael McClain, are accused of running a criminal enterprise designed to enrich the former speaker and his associates and increase his political power.

Closing arguments continued Thursday in the federal corruption trial of longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan