NOW TO PARIS FOR OUR TOP STORIES TONIGHT .

>>> THE TRIAL IS SET TO BEGIN TOMORROW, THESE OFFICIALS ARE ACCUSED OF SCHEMING TO BRIBE INDICTED FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN.

MATT MASTERSON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

REMIND US THE CHARGES AGAINST THIS SO-CALLED COMMENT FOR HIM.

>> HE WAS CHARGED WITH BRIBERY CONSPIRACY AND FALSIFYING COMMENT BOOKS AND RECORDS AS PART OF HIS ALLEGED SCHEME TO TRY TO CORRUPTLY INFLUENCE MICHAEL MADIGAN IN ORDER TO PROMOTE STATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD'VE BENEFITED THE UTILITY COMPANY.

THE DEFENDANT CLAIMS THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.

>> THAT'S REALLY WHY THE PROSECUTORS ALLEGE THAT THIS CROSSED THE LINE BETWEEN LUMBERING -- LOBBYING AND BRIBERY.

>> THIS FORMER COMMENT CEO, AND X COMMENT LOBBYIST JOHN HOOKER.

AND LONGTIME MICHAEL MADIGAN CONFIDENT MICHAEL McLEAN.

PROSECUTORS SAY ALL THESE PEOPLE HAD A ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS SCHEME FUNNELING MONEY IN PARTS TO MADIGAN ALLIES TO TRY TO FALSIFY THESE RECORDS AND COVER EVERYTHING UP.

>> AS I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE 70 OR SO WITNESSES LINED UP ALREADY.

IS MIKE MADIGAN INCLUDED?

>> ALMOST CERTAINLY NOT.

THIS TRIAL CENTERS AROUND HIM AND HE'S OBVIOUSLY THE BIGGEST PART.

WHILE HE WON'T BE AT THE DEFENDANT'S TABLE HE HAS BEEN CHARGED SEPARATELY IN HIS OWN CASE WITH RACKETEERING AND BRIBERY.

THE TRIAL IS COMING UP NEXT YEAR SO THERE'S REALLY NO INCENTIVES TO TAKE THE WITNESS STAND.

>> THIS CASE IS ESSENTIALLY A PREVIEW FOR WHAT THAT CASE IS GOING TO BE.

CENTRAL TO THE EVIDENCE IN BOTH OF THESE CASES ARE WIRETAP RECORDINGS.

WILL THE PUBLIC HEAR ANY OF THOSE RECORDINGS?

>> IN THE COURTROOM THE JURY WILL HEAR THEM BUT AT THIS POINT NO ONE OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE WILL BE ALLOWED HERE THOSE RECORDINGS.

THE JUDGE HAS RULED THEY WILL NOT BE PUBLICIZED AND THEY COULD SENSATIONALIZE THIS TRIAL.

THIS GOES AGAINST PRACTICE IN A LOT OF FEDERAL CASES BUT, FOR NOW IT'S, THEY WON'T BE.

>> SO ONLY IF YOU ARE IN THE IMMEDIATE ROOM.

SO THEY'VE ALREADY ADMITTED TO THEIR PART IN THE CONSPIRACY.

WILL THE JURY HEAR ABOUT THAT AND THAT GOING TO BE A PART OF THE PROSECUTION'S CASE?

>> THEY ADMITTED THEIR GUILT AND PAID A $200 MILLION FINE AS PART OF THE DEFERRED PROSECUTION PLAN.

AS OF NOW THE JUDGE'S RULING THAT WILL NOT BE COMING INTO EVIDENCE THOUGH THAT COULD CHANGE.

FOR NOW THAT WILL NOT BE A PART OF THE CASE THOUGH JURORS WILL LIKELY HEAR TESTIMONY FROM AN ATTORNEY AS WELL AS ONE OF THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENTS WHO IS ALSO PLED GUILTY IN RELATION TO THIS.