[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS WE'LL CHECK BACK WITH YOU IN A FEW MINUTES FOR A SPECIAL EDITION OF SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS... LONG TIME ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN ININDICTED LATE THIS AFTERNOON ON 22 CORRUPTION CHARGES.

OUR AMANDA VINICKY WAS AT THE FEDERAL BUILDING FOR TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT AND JOINS US NOW.

IT IS A DAY THAT MANY POLITICAL OBSERVERS THOUGHT MIGHT NEVER COME BUT IT IS HERE.

WHAT'S THE LATEST?

>> YES, PARIS, IT IS HERE AND INCREDIBLE FASHION, RACKETEERING, CONSPIRERY, WIRE FRAUD, EXTORTION.

22 COUNTS IN TOTAL RETURNED BY A GRAND JURY ALL DETAILED IN A 106-PAGE INDICTMENT IT IS A STUNNING FALL FOR A MAN WHO FOR A LONGTIME DOMINATED ALL OF ILLINOIS GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS.

SOUTH SIDE IRISH MAN TURNING 80 NEXT MONTH INVOLVED IN SPAL SINCE HE HELPED TO WRITE THE STATE'S CURRENT CONSTITUTION IN 1970.

AND UNTIL ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN INVESTIGATIONS INTO HIS INNER CIRCLE LED A GROUP OF ONCE LOYAL HOUSE DEMOCRATS TO DESSERT HIM, HE HAD HELD THE TITLE OF THE NATION'S LONGEST SERVING HOUSE SPEAKER.

HE DOMINATED ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE ILLINOIS DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

HE IS ACCUSED OF USING EACH OF THOSE POSITIONS TO HIS PERSONAL BENEFIT.

>> THE INDICTMENT ALLEGES A LONG-TERM MULTIFACETED SCHEME TO USE PUBLIC POSITIONS FOR UNLAWFUL GAIN INCLUDING NO SHOW JOBS FOR MAD DPAN'S POLITICAL WORKERS AND PRIVATE GAIN FOR MADIGAN HIMSELF.

THE SCHEMES DESCRIBE AN INVOLVEMENT OF A LEADER IN STATE GOVERNMENT, TOP MANAGEMENT OF A LARGE PUBLIC UTILITY, CONSULTANTS AND OTHERS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS TYPE OF CRIMINAL CONSTRUCT DRASTICALLY UNDERMINES THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE IN OUR GOVERNMENT.

SIMPLY PUT: IT'S NOT A GOOD THING.

>> AS U.S. ATTORNEY JOHN LAUSCH INDICATED IT IS NOT JUST MADIGAN.

THE LATEST INDICTMENT SNARES MADIGAN'S CONFIDANTE MIKE MCCLAIN.

MIKE MCCLAIN HAD BEEN FIGHTING CRIMINAL CHARGES AND OTHER I HIGH UP WITH ComEd ALLEGEDLY GAVE JOBS TO PEOPLE CLOSE TO MADIGAN AS THE HOUSE WAS PASSING A CONTROVERSIAL LAW BOOSTING ComEd AND PARENT COMPANY EXELON'S PROFITS N FEDERAL FILINGS MAD DPAN WAS KNOWN AS PUBLIC OFFICIAL A.

TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME HE IS TIED AND NAMED TO ALLEGED ILLEGAL ACTIVITY AS PART OF THAT SCHEME.

BUT ALSO, TWO OTHER SCHEMES.

MADIGAN HAS LONG WORKED AS A PROPERTY TAX ATTORNEY AND IS ACCUSED OF USING HIS POWERFUL POLITICAL POSITIONS TO STEER BUSINESS TO HIS LAW FIRM.

THE FEDS ARE SEEKING MADIGAN TO FORFEIT $2.8 MILLION IN WHAT THEY DESCRIBE AS ILL GOTTEN GAINS.

AS THE INDICTMENT DESCRIBES IT IS A FULL ON ENTERPRISE OF WHICH MADIGAN IS THE LEADER.

THE PURPOSES OF THE MADIGAN ENTERPRISE INCLUDED BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TO EXERCISE, PRESERVE AND ENHANCE MAD DPAN'S POLITICAL POWER AND FINANCIAL WELL-BEING TO FINANCIALLY REWARD POLITICAL ALLIES, POLITICAL WORKERS AND ASSOCIATES FOR THEIR LOYALTY AND ASSOCIATION AND WORK FOR MADIGAN AND TO GENERATE INCOME FOR MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES OF THE INTERPIZ THROUGH ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.

THE INDICTMENT ALLEGES THE ACTIVITY GOES BACK A DECADE.

>> THIS HAS BEEN SOMETIME COMING WHERE WE HAVE CONTINUED TO LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE AND FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE AND ULTIMATELY BRING CHARGES.

>> BUT MADIGAN IS NOT GOING TO MAKE THAT EASY, THUS FAR HIS CONFIDANTES PLED NOT GUILTY AND EVEN IF HE WAS NAMED PUBLIC OFFICIAL A HE HAS DENIED WRONG AND HE IS STILL IS.

HIS ATTORNEYS CALLED THE CHARGES BASELESS SAY PLEXIGLASS MAD GAM REJECTS THE NOTION HE WAS INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY BEFORE DURING OR AFTER HIS LONG CAREER AS A PUBLIC SERVE APARTMENT.

THE GOVERNMENT'S OVERREACH IN CHARGING HIM WITH THESE ALLEGED CRIMES IS GROUNDLESS AND WE INTEPID TO PREVAIL IN -- INTEND TO PREVAIL IN COURT.

AND MEDIA REPORTING A STATEMENT FROM PAD BEGAN SAYING THE FEDS ARE TRYING TO CRIMINALIZE WHAT IS REGULAR BEHAVIOR FOR A PUBLIC OFFICIAL AND HE IS PROUD OF HIS CAREER.

UNDER MADIGAN'S LEADERSHIP DEMOCRATS DID COME TO AMASS A LOT OF POWER IN SPRINGFIELD THEY CONTROL ALL OF IT RIGHT NOW.

AND DEMOCRATS WHO LED THE CHARGE TO OUST MADIGAN ARE CLAIMING VINDICATION.

OTHER DEMOCRATS MORE PROTECT PRATT IN THEIR RESPONSE.

DON HARM ON ISSUED A -- HARMON ISSUING A STATEMENT... REPUBLICANS THOUGH, TYING MADIGAN'S ALLEGED MISS DEEDS TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> TODAY, MAY BE THE DARKEST DAY IN ILLINOIS HISTORY.

NOT JUST AN INDICTMENT AGAINST MICHAEL MADIGAN.

BUT IT IS AN INDICTMENT AGAINST THE DEMOCRAT PARTY OF ILLINOIS THAT HE RAN FOR DECADES.

TODAY, YOU WILL HEAR FROM MANY HOUSE DEMOCRATS WHO SPENT YEARS BENEFITING FROM MICHAEL MADIGAN'S POWER AND SPOKE OUT ONLY WHEN IT WAS POLITICALLY ADVANTAGEOUS.

BE WARY OF THEM.

>> OTHER FIGURES IN GOVERNMENT ARE PEPPERED THROUGHOUT THE INDICTMENT.

THE GOVERNOR AMONG THEM AND WTTW NEWS DID JUST LEARN THAT GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER WAS INTERVIEWED BY THE FEDS AS PART OF THIS INVESTIGATION.

BUT LAUSCH WAS CLEAR TO SAY THAT NEITHER THE GOVERNOR NOR ANY OF HIS STAFF HAVE ANYTHING ALLEGED AGAINST THEM AS PART OF THIS INDICTMENT NOR ARE MANY OF THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH WHOM MADIGAN MET.

PRIOR TO THIS AFTERNOON'S NEWS CONFERENCE BY THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, PRITZKER SAID THAT HE DID HAVE TO WORK WITH MADIGAN BY VIRTUE OF THEIR ROLES IN GOVERNMENT AND ANYONE GUILTY OF CORRUPTION SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE TO THE HIGHEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.

AS U.S. ATTORNEY LAUSCH HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH OTHER HIGH PROFILE SCHEMES INCLUDING ONE LONG TIME ALDERMAN ED BURKE PLEADED NOT GUILTY.

LAUSCH WAS ASKED WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SNARE MADIGAN?

THE REPORTER CALLING MADIGAN THE BIG FISH?

IS THIS THE END OF THE CHICAGO WAY?

PROSECUTORS ARE GENERALLY FORMAL AND LAUSCH DID NOT DIRECTLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

SAYING HE WANTED TO STAY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE INDICTMENT BUT HE DID SAY THIS... >> THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO BE A STUBBORN ONE.

YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS ALLEGED HERE.

WE HAVE CONDUCT THAT IS ALLEGED UP UNTIL 2019.

SO AND IT IS A DECADE LONG LESS THAN A DECADE LONG SCHEME THAT IS DESCRIBED HERE.

IT LASTED FOR A LONGTIME.

AND IT LASTED UP INTO 2019.

>> WHILE HE DIDN'T APPEAR TO HAVE ANYTHING SPECIFIC IN MIND, LAUSCH DID SAY THAT THIS INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

AND HE ASKED ANYBODY WITH KNOWLEDGE OF WRONGDOING TO COME FORWARD WITH TIPS.

BACK TO YOU.

>> A LOT TO DISSECT HERE AND WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT IN JUST A MINUTE.

MORE ANALYSIS ON THE FEDERAL CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST MICHAEL MADIGAN WITH AMANDA AND THE REST OF OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> THE FEDERAL CHARGES FOR THE NATION'S LONGEST SERVING HOUSE SPEAKER.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR ILLINOIS' DEMOCRATIC PARTY, PUBLIC TRUST IN STATE GOVERNMENT, AND FOR MICHAEL MADIGAN HIMSELF.

WE DIVE INTO THAT AND MORE IN A SPECIAL EDITION OF SPOTLIGHT POLITICS WITH AMANDA VINICKY, HEATHER CHERONE AND PARIS SCHUTZ.

JUST TO RECAP AS AMANDA REPORTED U.S. ATTORNEY OF THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS JOHN LAUSCH ANNOUNCING FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN HAS BEEN INDICTED.

LAUSCH SAYS IT HAS BEEN A LONGTIME COMING.

HERE IS A BIT HOW HE SAYS HIS TEAM GATHERED EVIDENCE.

>> WE USED A HOST OF INVESTIGATIVE TOOLS THOSE ARE NOT SPELLED OUT IN THE INDICTMENT.

BUT WHAT YOU DO HAVE, ARE WORDS THAT USED IN CONVERSATIONS, YOU DO HAVE WORDS USED IN DOCUMENTS OR E-MAILS THAT ARE SPELLED OUT THROUGHOUT THE INDICTMENT AND THAT IS THE CORE OF OUR EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE.

THE WORDS SPOKEN BY PEOPLE.

IT IS THE THINGS THAT SHOW UP ON DOCUMENTS AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT FORM THE BASIS FOR THE CHARGES WE BROUGHT.

>> HEATHER CHERONE ANY CLUES HOW INVESTIGATORS GOT MADIGAN?

>> WELL, WE DO KNOW THAT SOME OF THE CHARGES SPECIFICALLY THE ONES WHERE MICHAEL MADIGAN IS CHARGED WITH USING HIS PUBLIC OFFICE TO DRIVE BUSINESS TO HIS PRIVATE PROPERTY TAX FIRM INVOLVED DISGRACED FORMER ALDERMAN DANNY SOLIS.

WE KNOW FROM REPORTING IN THE TRIBUNE AND NEWS ORGANIZATIONS THAT DANNY SOLIS WAS WEARING A WIRE.

IT'S CLEAR SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS TOOK PLACE WITH MICHAEL MADIGAN AND SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE QUOTED IN THE INDICTMENT RELEASED TODAY.

BEYOND THAT, IT'S NOT CLEAR PRECISELY HOW THEY GOT THE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS INDICTMENT BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAD THOUGHT THAT MICHAEL MADIGAN WAS TOO SLICK TO BE CAUGHT ON TAPE, TO INCLUDING AN E-MAIL WHERE HE WAS PARTICIPATING IN A CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE THERE IS A LOT OF EVIDENCE THAT IS NOT PUBLIC EVERYONE WANTS TO FOR EXACTLY HOW THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS FINALLY, FINALLY, BROUGHT AN INDICTMENT AGAINST FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN.

>> AND PARIS, WE GOT THIS 106-PAGE INDICTMENT A FEW HOURS AGO.

WHAT STANDS OUT TO YOU?

>> WHERE DO YOU START?

THE KEY LINE SAYING THE 22 COUNT INDICTMENT ACCUSES MADIGAN FOR LEADING FOR NEARLY A DECADE A CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE TO ENHANCE HIS POLITICAL POWER AND GENERATING INCOME FOR ALLIES AND ASSOCIATES.

SAYING HIS POLITICAL ORGANIZATION THE 13TH WARD POLITICAL ORGANIZATION THE MOST POWERFUL IN THE STATE FOR MANY YEARS WAS ONE GIANT CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE ONE GRIST TO ENRICH HIM AND MAKE HIM POWERFUL AND ENRICH HIS FRIENDS.

THE THING IS NONE OF THIS IS SURPRISING TO ANYBODY THAT SPENT ANYTIME AROUND STATE POLITICS.

EVERYONE KNEW THAT THIS WAS THE DYNAMIC WITH MADIGAN.

THIS WAS THE GENERAL WAY HE OPERATED.

MAYBE THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS OR HAVE PROOF THAT HE STEERED BUSINESS TO HIS LAW FIRM.

BUT HE BUILT POWER FOR A REASON.

AND THESE WERE THE TOOLS ALLEGED THAT HE USED TO BUILD POWER.

BUT THE THING THAT EVERYONE ELSE SURMISED HE WAS TOO SLICK.

HE DOESN'T USE E-MAIL AND A MAN OF FEW WORDS DANNY SOLIS AND ComEd, THE DEFERRED PROSECUTION AGREEMENT THAT THAT COMPANY ENTERED INTO SOME OF THEIR PRINCIPLES ARE COOPERATING HERE AND GIVING INFORMATION THAT LED TO TODAY'S INDICTMENT.

>> CLEARLY.

ONE PART OF THE INDICTMENT CITES A CONVERSATION BETWEEN MADIGAN AND ALDERPERSON ABOUT A COMPANY.

THE ALDERPERSON SAID QUOTE... WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE CLEAR BRIBERY?

>> A MAN OF FEW WORDS.

EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT QUID PRO QUO IS.

A CHICKEN AND THE EGG SCENARIO WHEN IT COMES TO MADIGAN'S POWER AND THEN HIS PRIVATE ROLE AS AN ATTORNEY.

ARE PEOPLE COMING TO HIM?

DOES HE AMASS POWER?

DOES HIS BLESSINGS FOR RECOMMENDING A JOB LEAD BACK THAT HE HOLDS POWERFUL POSITIONS, HOUSE SPEAKER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ILLINOIS OR THE OPPOSITE HE USES THE POSITIONS TO GET BUSINESS FOR HIS LAW FIRM TO GET ALLIES, JOBS AND POSITIONS?

MADIGAN IS ARGUING THAT IT IS REALLY THE FORMER.

THIS IS POLITICS THAT IS HOW IT WORKS WHEN YOU ARE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ASK YOU WHO DO YOU THINK I SHOULD HIRE FOR THIS JOB?

THAT IS PART OF THE NATURE AND THE FEDS ARE ARGUING THE OPPOSITE THAT IT WAS JUST PART OF THAT CONVERSATION A QUID PRO QUO.

THAT IS WHAT I THINK STICKS OUT.

ALSO AS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS NOTION OF MADIGAN HOW CAREFUL HE WAS, THE LACK OF CELLPHONE, KNOWING ALL THE RULES, HAVING BEEN PART OF STATE GOVERNMENT SINCE 1970 DRAFTING THE CONSTITUTION, REALLY KNOWING THE LAW INSIDE AND OUT AND THEREFORE PERHAPS TREADING UP TO THE LINE.

THIS GETS TO A COUPLE OF THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL THE NOTION, DO YOU STILL WANT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ACT IN A PARTICULAR MANNER SERVING THE PUBLIC GOOD EVEN IF IT ISN'T PER SE ILLEGAL?

AND ALSO, HOW MADIGAN WAS USING SOME OF THESE APPARENTLY KNOWING THE LAW TO DO JUST THAT TO SORT OF SKIRT IT.

THE INDICTMENT DETAILS THE USE OF THIRD PARTY CELLPHONES.

CODED LANGUAGE.

WE KNOW THAT MIKE MCCLAIN ONE OF MADIGAN'S THEY SERVED IN THE ILLINOIS HOUSE TOGETHER WAY BACK WHEN THAT MIKE MCCLAIN REFERRED TO MADIGAN AS HIMSELF.

SO IT APPEARED THE FEDS ARE MAKING THE ARGUMENT THAT MADIGAN KNEW WHO HE WAS -- WHAT HE WAS DOING WAS WRONG AND WAS INTENTIONALLY DOING WHAT HE COULD TO TRY AND EVADE THE FEDS AND INVESTIGATORS.

>> LIKE THAT QUID PRO QUO HE SAYS LATER IN THE INDICTMENT DON'T USE THE WORDS QUID PRO QUO, DANNY SOLIS.

AND IT HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF, SOLIS DEVELOPERS COME 0 SOLIS THEY NEEDED A ZONING CHANGE.

SOLIS SAYS IF THEY WANT THE ZONING CHANGE THEY HAVE TO HIRE MADIGAN AND THIS SCHEME HERE AND MADIGAN IS A PART OF THAT.

SOLIS GOT MESSED NEWSPAPER HIS OWN PROBLEMS FEDERALLY.

HE CUT THE DEAL WITH THE FEDS.

AND HE IS NOT FACED PRISON TIME.

CLEARLY BECAUSE IT EN SNARED ED BURKE AND NOW MICHAEL MADIGAN.

SOLIS WEARING A WIRE PLAYING A HUGE ROLE.

>> THE INDICTMENT CITES INSTANCES FROM THE PAST DECADE, MADIGAN HAD BEEN IN POWER FOR MUCH LONGER AS WE KNOW, ARE THERE SIGNS THAT THIS ALLEGED CORRUPTION SPANS FURTHER THAN WHAT HAS BEEN CHARGED BECAUSE WE DO KNOW THAT THE U.S.A. SAID THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING?

>> WE DON'T KNOW.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT IF YOU READ THIS INDICTMENT AS SORT OF A FULL ACCOUNTING OF MICHAEL MADIGAN'S ALLEGED CRIMINAL ACTIONS IT BEGAN 10 YEARS AGO.

BUT I THINK EVERYBODY IS WONDERING HOW COULD THAT BE?

IF HE'S BEEN IN POWER SINCE 1983, HOW DID IT JUST START IN 2009?

IT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO MOST PEOPLE.

WHAT STRUCK ME FROM THE INDICTMENT AS WELL IS THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT A DOLLAR FIGURE ON WHAT THEY SAY MADIGAN AND HIS ASSOCIATES GAINED FROM THAT.

AND THAT TOTALS $2.8 MILLION.

AND I THINK IT'S NOT TOO IMPORTANT TO STOP AND PUT A PERIOD ON THAT.

BECAUSE THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TODAY ALLEGED THAT ESSENTIALLY MADIGAN AND HIS ASSOCIATES THROUGH A CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE STOLE THAT MONEY FROM ILLINOIS TAXPAYERS.

AND WE SOMETIMES FORGET WHAT WAS ALL THE POLITICS THAT AT THE CENTER OF THE DEFERRED PROSECUTION AGREEMENT THAT ComEd SIGNED WAS A SCHEME TO RAISE ELECTRICITY RATES ON ILLINOIS RESIDENTS.

SO THAT SORT OF HOW ALL THIS STARTED.

AND HOW FAR BACK DOES IT GO?

NOBODY, I THINK WILL EVER REALLY KNOW.

>> WHAT CAN TELL.

IN RECENT YEARS DEMOCRATS HAVE SLOWLY STARTED TO COME OUT AGAINST MADIGAN AND MANY SUPPORTED HIM AND DO AND DID UP UNTIL HE RESIGNED.

G.O.P.

LAWMAKERS HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE IN RESPONSE TO THE INDICTMENT.

HERE IS A BIT FROM REPRESENTATIVE TOM DEMMER OF DIXON.

>> THE IMPORTANT MESSAGE HERE TODAY IS THAT ETHICS REQUIRE MORE THAN JUST NOT BREAKING LAWS.

THAT A CULTURE OF ETHICS IN SPRINGFIELD DOESN'T WAIT FOR AN INDICTMENT TO HAPPEN.

BUT THAT WE HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE THAT WE GO THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE PROCESS AND WE GET THE ANSWERS WE NEED WHEN WE NEED THEM.

>> GOING FORWARD PARIS DO YOU EXPECT TO HEAR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DEMOCRATS THEIR POTENTIAL ROLE IN ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN CONSIDERING MADIGAN HAD SO MUCH POWER ARE OVER THEM?

>> YES, THAT IS THE CASE THAT JIM DURKIN MADE AND A CASE THAT REPUBLICANS WILL TRY TO MAKE.

AND THERE ARE MANY DEMOCRATS THAT JUMPED OFF THE MADIGAN BAND WAGON.

ONE AND THEN TWO AND THREE AND FOUR FOLLOWED ONCE THEY KNEW WHERE THE INVESTIGATION WAS GOING.

I WANT TO BRING UP ONE MORE POINT.

MIKE MCCLAIN IS CHARGED WITH THE 22 COUNTS.

AND HE STILL HAS HIS OWN FEDERAL CASE WHICH BASICALLY HE IS CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXACT SAME ALLEGED ACTIVITIES.

AND LAUSCH WAS ASKED THAT TODAY WHY IS McCLAIN CHARGED WHEN HE IS ALREADY CHARGED?

AND THE AND OBVIOUS IMPLICATION HE IS THE KEY WITNESS AND THEY WANT HIM TO FLIP AND THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN HIM TO DO SO YET.

THE FEDS WOULD NOT BRING A CASE IF THEY DIDN'T FEEL IT WAS STRONG.

BUT IT IS A STRONGER CASE IF MIKE MCCLAIN SAYS YOU KNOW ALL THIS STUFF, HE MADE ME DO IT.

AND THE LAWYERS SAID HE IS NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

I THINK THE FEDS WANT TO TIE-UP LOOSE ENDS WITH THIS CASE.

>> MADIGAN IS LIKELY TO PUT UP A STRONG DEFENSE.

WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING AS THE CASE MOVES FORWARD?

>> I'M STRUCK BY THE PARALLELS WITH THE CRIMINAL CHARGES FACING ED BURKE.

HE PLED NOT GUILTY WE EXPECT MICHAEL MADIGAN TO PLEAD NOT GUILTY AND CHARGED WITH SOME OF THE SAME CRIMINAL CONDUCT.

USING THE PUBLIC OFFICE TO DRIVE BUSINESS TO THEIR PRIVATE TAX FIRM.

AND ED BURKE IS USING HIS WAR CHEST TO PAY LAWYERS WHO HAVE BURIED THE GOVERNMENT IN A BLIZZARD OF MOTIONS AND CHALLENGES THAT DRAGGED ON THIS CASE FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS AT THIS POINT.

AND I EXPECT MADIGAN IS GOING TO DO EXACTLY THE SAME THING.

I EXPECT HIM TO CHALLENGE THE LEGALITY OF THE WIRE STAN WE TALKED ABOUT WITH SOLIS.

AND HE CAN DRAG IT OUT FOR A LONGTIME.

PERHAPS AS LONG AS ED BURKE.

IT'S HARD TO TELL.

BUT THIS IS JUST SORT OF THE OPENING SALVO IN WHAT PROMISES TO BE A LONG AND BITTERLY FOUGHT CRIMINAL CASE.

>> AMANDA?

>> I GOING TO ADD MADIGAN HAS THE CAMPAIGN WAR CHEST TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT TO FIGHT WITH FURRY IN THE COURTS AGAINST THIS.

I WANTED TO POINT OUT WHAT PARIS SAID, IT IS STRIKING.

BURKE STILL IN OFFICE.

MADIGAN IS NOT.

COMMITTEEMAN BUT HE DOES NOT HAVE ANY OR NEAR THE POWER HE DID.

SO THE 19 LEGISLATORS WOMEN BY THE WAY, LED THIS, THEY WERE THE ONES WHO JUMPED SHIP WHEN IT WAS A VERY SCARY THING TO DO AND DEMOCRATS WOULD BE IN A DIFFERENT POSITION HAD THOSE 19 INDIVIDUALS NOT TAKEN THE LEAP AND MADIGAN WAS FACING THE CHARGES WHILE HOLDING THE POSITIONS OF DPI CHAIRMAN AND ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER.

>> ALAINNA HAMPTON THE WOMAN WHO CAME FORWARD ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE 13TH WARD OPERATION THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE SAW CHINKS IN THE ARMOR OF MADIGAN.

NO ONE TALKED OR CHALLENGED HIM AND SHE DID AND AFTER THAT IT'S BEEN ALL DOWNHILL FOR THAT ORGANIZATION.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT LED TO INFORMATION THAT THE FEDS GOT.

BUT CERTAINLY IT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE SAW THE WHEELS START TO COME OFF.

>> I WILL GIVE IT TO HEATHER, ILLINOIS SENATORS DICK DURBIN AND TAMMY DUCKWORTH THEY LOBBIED THE PRESIDENT TO KEEP LAUSCH IN THIS POSITION.

DO YOU THINK THEY ARE SEEING THE FRUITS OF HER LABOR?

>> THEY SURE ON.

THEY PICKED A FIGHT WITH A NEWLY INAUGURATED JOE BIDEN SAYING DON'T FIRE LAUSCH APPOINTED BY DONALD TRUMP WHEN JOE BIDEN FIRED ALL OF THE U.S.

ATTORNEYS AS ONE DOES WHEN A NEW PRESIDENT TAKES OFFICE.

THEY WENT TO THE PRESIDENT AND SAID LEAVE LAUSCH THERE'S TOO MUCH GOING ON WITH CORRUPTION IN ILLINOIS AND TODAY IF NOTHING ELSE IS THE VINDICATION AT THAT TIME THEIR ARGUMENT THAT THE CASE WAS ALMOST THERE.

IT DOESN'T TEAM LIKE THAT MORE THAN A YEAR AGO BUT THAT IS HOW THE U.S.

ATTORNEYS OFFICE WORK THEY MOVE DELIBERATELY AND SLOWLY.

BUT IT IS A CLEAR WIN FOR DURBIN AND DUCKWORTH AND IT COULD MEAN THAT LAUSCH STAYS IN OFFICE A LITTLE BIT LONGER BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO CHANGE PROSECUTORS IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGH PROFILE CASE LIKE THIS.

>> THAT IS SPOTLIGHT POLITICS, AMANDA VINICKY WARM-UP, HEATHER CHERONE, PARIS SCHUTZ THANKS.

AND MUCH MORE ON THE MADIGAN STORY TOMORROW AND IN THE DAYS TO COME.

UP NEXT HOW IS COOK COUNTY SPENDING FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT?

DETAILS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

COOK COUNTY RECEIVED $1 BILLION FROM THE FEDERAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

TODAY COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT TONI PRECKWINKLE RELEASED DETAILS WHAT THAT MONEY WILL PAY FOR.

PRESIDENT PRECKWINKLE SAYS 320 MILLION WILL BE ALLOCATED FOR THIS YEAR.

60 MILLION WILL GO TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND REDUCTION PROGRAMS.

ANOTHER 60 MILLION WILL GO TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS AND 100 MILLION FOR ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FISH ACTIVES.

AND TONI PRECKWINKLE JOINS US NOW.

MADAM PRESIDENT THANK YOU FORFEITING US IN.

BEFORE WE GET INTO WHAT WE DISCUSSED WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE NEWS ABOUT THE FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER?

>> WELL, I ISSUED A STATEMENT A LITTLE BIT AGO CALLING FOR MICHAEL MADIGAN'S RESIGNATION AS COMMITTEE PERSON OF THE 13TH WARD.

AND HE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH USING HIS OFFICE FOR PERSONAL GAIN BY RACKETEERING AND THE MATTERS WILL BE ADJUDICATED, I THINK IT'S BEST AND TRULY BEST FOR THE PARTY THAT HE PURSUE HIS DEFENSE.

NOT AS A COMMITTEE PERSON.

>> WHAT IS YOUR REACTION AS YET ANOTHER ILLINOIS OFFICIAL IS FACING MORE CORRUPTION CHARGES?

>> YOU KNOW I'M A HISTORY TEACHER AND I SAY IN A DEMOCRACY YOU MAY NOT GET THE GOVERNMENT YOU DESERVE BUT YOU WILL GET THE GOVERNMENT YOU PUT UP WITH.

IN ILLINOIS WE HAVE HAD TOLERANCE FOR BAD BEHAVIOR AND I'M ENCOURAGED THAT FINALLY THERE'S SOME ACCOUNTABILITY AND I HOPE THAT JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED.

>> MOVING ON TO COOK COUNTY AND THE FEDERAL FUNDS.

60 MILLION DOLLARS FOR 2022 ON DIFFERENT VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND REDUCTION PROGRAMS.

TODAY YOU SPOKE AT THE CITY CLUB AND EMPHASIZED THE COMMUNITY CANNOT POLICE ITS WAY OUT OF THE VIOLENCE PROBLEM.

HOW IS THE COUNTY COLLABORATING WITH THE CITY AND THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT ON THIS?

>> I SHOULD SAY THERE'S INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORKING GROUP THAT INCLUDES THE STATE AND THE COUNTY AND THE CITY.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO BOTH MAKE THE BEST USE OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AND NOT OVERLAP OUR INVESTMENTS.

SO THERE IS AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORKING GROUP THAT IS WORKING TO BE SURE THAT WE MAKE THE BEST POSSIBLE INVESTMENTS IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR OUR STATE AND CITY PARTNERS.

WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED SINCE 2013 IN MY ADMINISTRATION ON TRYING TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WORK AND I'M PROUD OF THAT FACT.

>> WHAT ARE THE STRATEGIES THAT YOU PLAN TO INVEST THE $60 MILLION IN?

>> WELL, I MEAN, WE'VE INVESTED IN STREET INTERVENTION WORK.

THE BRAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT IN OUR COMMUNITIES TRYING TO DAMP DOWN THE VIOLENCE.

WE SUPPORT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO WORK WITH THOSE COMING OUT OF OUR JAILS AND PRISONS.

AND WORK WITH AND SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THERE ARE A VARIETY OF INITIATIVES BEEN SUPPORTING SINCE 2013 AND ARE NOW WORKING WITH THE STATE AND THE CITY TO INSURE THAT WE MAKE THE BEST POSSIBLE INVESTMENTS.

>> ANOTHER $16 MILLION GOING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

HOW WILL THAT FUNDING SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY GUN VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA?

>> WELL, AS WE TALK TO OUR COMMISSIONERS ABOUT HOW THEIR SUGGESTIONS HOW WE MIGHT SPEND, EACH SAID WE NEED TO INVEST MORE IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

IN COOK COUNTY NOT TO OUR CREDIT, IT'S NOT OVER TIME REALLY PUT SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND IT'S LONG PAST WHEN WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND IN THE INTERIM WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO SUPPORT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES IN OUR HOSPITALS AND CLINICS AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS GOING TO HAVE A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH STAFF PERSON AT EACH PROPERTIES AT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.

WE ARE TRYING TO DO WORK AS A BRIDGE AS WE PUT TOGETHER THIS SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> NOW, YOU MENTIONED FULL-TIME BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AT ALL HOUSING PROPERTIES.

HOW UNIQUE IS THAT PROGRAM?

>> I'M GRATEFUL TO RICH WHO IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND HIS STAFF FOR HIS COOPERATION WITH US AS WE TRY TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES.

>> SO YOU ALSO TALKED ABOUT ABOLISHING ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN MEDICAL DEBT FOR RESIDENTS AT THE COST OF JUST 12 MILLION.

FIRST, EXPLAIN FOR US HOW YOU ARE DOING THAT?

>> IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO PAY YOUR MEDICAL BILLS SOMETIMES THE HOSPITALS WILL SELL THOSE BILLS TO DEBT COLLECTORS AT PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR.

WHAT WE WOULD INTERVENE IN THAT PROCESS AND BUY MEDICAL DEBT AND FREE OUR COOK COUNTY RESIDENTS OF THE OBLIGATIONS THEN TO PAY THOSE DEBTS.

FOR MANY PEOPLE, THE SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CHALLENGE THEY FACE IN THEIR LIVES IS PAYING MEDICAL BILLS.

EVEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE INSURANCE MAY NOT HAVE THE CATASTROPHIC COVERAGE NEED SHOULD THEIR FAMILY ENDURE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT OR ILLNESS.

AND MEDICAL DEBT IS THE PRINCIPLE CAUSE OF BANKRUPTCY IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE'RE DOING WHAT WE THINK IS BEST TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGE.

>> AND YOU ANNOUNCED 42 MILLION FOR GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT.

EXPECTED TO BECOME PERMANENT.

EXPECTED TO BE THE BIGGEST IN THE NATION.

HOW WILL THAT WORK?

>> WELL, WE USED SOME OF OUR CARES ACRIMONY IN 2020 TO PROVIDE $600 STIPEND TO FAMILIES IN NEED.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO INVOLVE 14,000 FAMILIES IN THAT PROGRAM.

AND PEOPLE USED THE MONEY TO PAY UTILITIES, RENT, TO PAYBACK TO SCHOOL EXPENSES FOR THEIR KIDS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO EXPAND THAT GUARANTEED INCOME INITIATIVE WITH OUR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT DOLLARS AND SPEND MORE MONEY.

WE SPENT 8 MILLION IN CARES ACT ON OUR GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT AND NOW WE HAVE 42 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR THE PILOT THAT WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN RESOURCES.

WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE SO WHEN THE DOLLARS ARE EXHAUSTED WE'LL STILL HAVE A PROGRAM IN PLACE.

>> AND YOUR SPEECH YOU REFERENCED THE GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME IT IS NOT A NEW IDEA THAT MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

ADVOCATED FOR IT 60 YEARS AGO.

WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S BECOMING A MAINSTREAM CONCEPT NOW?

>> IT'S NOT UNREASONABLE IDEA.

PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR NEED MONEY.

YOU WILL HELP THEM ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES IN THEIR LIVES.

AND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

SPOKE TO THIS IN HIS LIFETIME IN THE 1950s AND 60s.

AND SINCE THEN IT MOVED MORE INTO THE MAINSTREAM AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO PURSUE THIS PILOT AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE PURSUED ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> THESE ARE AMONG 80 PLUS INITIATIVES THAT YOU AND THE COUNTY PLAN IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

GIVE US A SENSE WHAT OTHER INITIATIVES INCLUDE?

>> WELL, WE'VE GOT ISSUES AROUND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN COOK COUNTY AROUND LEAD PIPE REPLACEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES.

THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS WHICH WE WILL BE USING THESE RESOURCES AND MAKING INVESTMENTS.

BUT THE PRINCIPLE ONES, PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE AND MEDICAL DEBT.

>> AND YOU ACKNOWLEDGED THE PLANS ARE AMBITIOUS WHAT CHALLENGES CAN YOU ANTICIPATE?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL WE WILL HAVE TO STAFF UP.

WE HAVE A BILLION DOLLARS IN EXTRA RESOURCES AND WE NEED PEOPLE TO HELP US PUT THE PROGRAMS TOGETHER AND TO MONITOR THOSE PROGRAMS.

SO WE'VE GOT WORK INITIALLY TO DO IN TERMS OF ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE TALENT AND EXPERTISE ONBOARD TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND WE WILL BE PRESENTING OUR PIECE TO THE COMMUNITY AND ASKING FOR COMMUNITY-BASED RESPONSES.

AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET LOTS OF FOLKS INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH US TO INSURE THAT WE MAKE THE BEST POSSIBLE USE OF THE FEDERAL DOLLARS.

>> A LOT OF WORK AHEAD FOR COOK COUNTY.

MADAM PRESIDENT THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

>> STILL TO COME ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" NOT JUST ON THE GROUND BUT ALSO THE DIGITAL WARFARE WAGED IN UKRAINE.

RUSSIA AND AROUND THE WORLD WE HEAR FROM CYBERSECURITY SPECIALISTS.

BASEBALL'S OPENING DAY IS POSTPONED AS OWNERS AND PLAYERS FAIL TO REACH A DEAL ON A NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.

>> MEET AQUATIC CREATURES FROM THE TIMES OF THE DINE SAUERS DINOSAURS.

>> CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TAKES A STEP TOWARDS LIFTING THE MASK MANDATE.

PEDRO MARTINEZ SAID THEY WILL MOVE TO A NEW MODEL IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

AND STACY DAVIS GATES RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING QUOTE... >> MEANWHILE, DOWN STATE ATTORNEY TOM DEVORE WHO IS REPRESENTING CHICAGO PARENTS AND A C.P.S.

REPRESENTATIVE WILL FACE OFF IN A COURT ON MARCH 10TH REGARDING TOM DEVORE'S REQUEST FOR A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER TO HALT THE MANDATE.

A BILL THAT ALLOWS CHICAGO PRINCIPALS TO UNIONIZE PASSES THE ILLINOIS HOUSE.

WILLIAM DAVIS' BILL AMENDS THE CODE TO MAKE PRINCIPALS ELIGIBLE FOR UNIONIZATION.

PRINCIPALS ARE CONSIDERED SUPERVISORS WHICH DOES NOT GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN IT PASSED THE HOUSE BY 63-35 AND NOW HEADS TO THE ILLINOIS SENATE.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S NOMINEE FOR THE SUPREME COURT MAKES HER FIRST ROUNDS ON CAPITOL HILL.

ILLINOIS' SENIOR SENATOR DICK DURBIN MEMBER WITH KETANJI BROWN JACKSON TODAY.

AS CHAIR OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE DURBIN IS IN CHARGE OF HER CONFIRMATION HEARINGS AND EXPRESSED HOPE SHE WILL HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> I'M LOOKING FOR A BIPARTISAN VOTE.

I'M NOT GOING TO DEFINE THAT FOR YOU.

WE KNOW IT'S AT LEAST ONE REPUBLICAN VOTING FOR HER AND I'M REACHING OUT.

>> JANET YELLEN WAS IN CHICAGO TOUTING TOUGHER SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA.

YELLEN SAID THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT MAY INTENSIFY FINANCIAL SANCTIONS AGAINST VLADIMIR PUTIN AND RUSSIAN OLIGARCHS.

>> WE HAVE ALSO MADE IT A PRIORITY TO GO AFTER OLIGARCHS OR RUSSIAN ELITES WHO ARE KEY TO PRESIDENT PUTIN'S CORRUPT POWER.

WE HAVE SANCTIONS MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

AND WE'RE ASSEMBLING A TASK FORCE WITH COLLEAGUES AND OUR INTERNATIONAL ALLIES TO UNCOVER, FREEZE AND SEIZE THEIR WEALTH AROUND THE WORLD.

>> AND THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT WOULD ADJUST THE SANCTIONS IF THOSE TARGETED ARE ABLE TO FIND WRK AROUNDS.

>> AND TO PARIS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A DIGITAL WAR WITH USE UKRAINE AND RUSSIA AND OTHER COUNTRIES.

>> A POWERFUL NEW DATA WIPING FORM OF MALWARE AS WELL AS THE ANONYMOUS HACKER GROUPS DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST RUSSIA.

HOW MIGHT RUSSIA RETALIATE VIA THE INTERNET?

JOINING US ARE STEL VANAVANIS, C.E.O.

OF ON-SHORE SECURITY.

AND VAHID BEHZADAN, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF DATA SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

VAHID BEHZADAN WHAT KIND OF CYBER HACKING ACTIVITY HAVE WE SEEN IN THE CONFLICT LEADING UP TO THE INVASION OF UKRAINE AND SINCE?

>> LET'S MAKE SURE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BOTH SIDES.

WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF RUSSIAN MILITARY, GOVERNMENT, AMAZINGLY MEDIA.

RUSSIAN MEDIA HAS BEEN NAILED.

ANONYMOUS STEPPED UP BUT VOLUNTEERS STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE.

WHAT IS INTERESTING THAT IS LOPSIDED.

WE'RE NOT SEEING THE ACTIVITY ON THE UKRAINE TARGET SIDE LIKE WE ARE ON THE FLIP SIDE AND NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING ON BUT THE TARGETS SEEM TO BE BANKS AND SOME GOVERNMENT.

I HAVE THEORIES ABOUT THAT.

WHY THAT IS THE CASE.

AND I'LL LET YOU -- >> I DO WANT TO GET TO THE THEORIES.

VAHID BEHZADAN, STEL VANAVANIS BROUGHT UP ANONYMOUS.

TELL US MORE WHO WE THINK THEY ARE AND HOW SUCCESSFUL THESE ATTACKS ON RUSSIAN WEBSITES AND MEDIA HAVE BEEN?

>> WELL, ANONYMOUS ESTABLISHED COLLECTIVE OF HACKISTS.

AND THEY ARE ESTABLISHED IN THE HISTORICAL SENSE THEY HAVE BEEN ON IN THE HACKING SCENE FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS.

ONE OF A MAJOR GEOPOLITICAL EVENT OCCURS HACKISTS TAKE SIDES ANONYMOUS ALSO ARISES AND CALLS FOR ATTACKS.

TYPICALLY, OF THE FIGURE OF SERVICE TYPE BUT OF IN CERTAIN CASES OF ATTACKS MORE SOPHISTICATION AND TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY AS WELL.

THEY ARE ANONYMOUS.

IT IS A COLLECTIVE IT IS NOT NECESSARILY A GROUP.

AND ANONYMOUS IS NOT THE ONLY HACKIST COLLECTIVE THAT HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN THE CYBER CONFLICT.

THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER HACKING GROUPS AS WELL AS LONE WOLVES.

AND ALSO THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO OFFICIALLY ASKED AND SUPPORTS HACKISTS GROUPS TARGETING RUSSIAN INTERNET.

>> LIKE THEIR GOVERNMENTAL WEBSITE AND SOME OF THE STATE MEDIA.

STEL VANAVANIS YOU MENTIONED IT'S BEEN LOPSIDED AND YOU ARE SURPRISED THAT THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT WHICH IS KNOWN FOR HACKING ATTACKS HAS NOT ENGAGED ARE THEY HOLDING THEIR FIRE FOR A FUTURE DATE?

>> WELL, VERY POSSIBLY.

RIGHT NOW, I'M GOING TO GUESS NOT.

BUT IT COULD BE A GOOD STRATEGY FOR THEM IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

WHETHER YOU ATTACK YOU PAY YOUR HAND.

YOU NOT ONLY SHOW YOUR TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES YOU ARE LETTING THE TARGET KNOW WHAT THE VULNERABILITIES THE ATTACKER THINKS THEY HAVE.

IT'S POSSIBLE.

BUT I HAVE TO SAY, THOUGH, PUTIN NEEDS A WIN AND SOON, AND I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE CALCULUS THERE.

I WILL GUESS IT HAS MORE TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THERE IS A WORLD AGAINST RUSSIA.

AND IN FACT ONE OF THE ASSETS THAT WAS SUCCESSFULLY ATTACKED WAS A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN RUSSIA AND THE RUSSIAN MILITARY IS VERY BUSY OR THE RUSSIAN CYBER MILITARY IS BUSY MITIGATING.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, I THINK THERE ARE CRIMINAL GANGS THAT USED A LOT FOR CYBER ACTIVITY IN THE PAST HAVE NOT BEEN AS LOYAL TO THEM AS THEY THOUGHT THEY MIGHT BE.

>> VAHID BEHZADAN WHAT ARE THE THINGS UKRAINIANS MIGHT NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR WHAT ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS CYBERATTACKS RUSSIA COULD EMPLOY?

>> TO FOLLOW-UP ON WHAT STEL JUST MENTIONED ONE OF THE THEORIES ABOUT WHY RUSSIA HAS NOT DEMONSTRATED THEIR MIGHT IN CYBER WARFARE, CAN BE BECAUSE RUSSIAN MILITARY AND RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE HAS BEEN USING INFORMATION COLLECTED FROM REGULAR APPS REGULAR SERVICES USED BY UKRAINIANS VIA THE INTERNET INCLUDING GOOGLE MAPS AND OF COURSE OTHER SORTS OF CROWD SOURCED OF INFORMATION.

I BELIEVE THAT WITH THE INCREASING VIOLENCE OF RUSSIAN MILITARY OPERATIONS THE NEED FOR SUCH INTELLIGENCE IS GOING TO DECREASE.

AND ONE OF THE POTENTIAL TARGETS FOR CYBERATTACKS IS GOING TO BE THE COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE.

MAKING SURE THAT NOT ONLY THE SOLDIERS IN THE MILITARY BUT THE CIVILIANS ARE UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER, COORDINATE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE RESISTANCE AGAINST RUSSIAN INVASION.

AND OF COURSE OTHER TYPES OF TARGETS WOULD INCLUDE SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE ON-LINE PRESENCE OF THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT.

>> I WANT TO GET TO THE SOCIAL MEDIA ASPECT OF IT STEL, RUSSIANS DEPLOYED FACEBOOK, META, TWITTER REMOVING HACK ADD COUNTS.

DO YOU THINK THE PRIVATE COMPANIES CAN KEEP UP WITH RUSSIAN EFFORTS TO DO THAT?

>> I DO.

AND IT IS AMAZING THEY ARE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN WHAT WE WANT TO CALL WAR.

KIND OF A NEW DAY IN SOME WAYS.

WE CAN LOOK BACK TO THE PAST AND FIND SOME PARALLELS BUT THIS IS A NEW THING.

AND NOBODY HAS BEEN MORE EQUIPPED THAN THESE LARGE TECH COMPANIES THEY ARE NOT ONLY GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB I THINK THEY ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE ALREADY.

>> AND THERE ARE WORRIES WITH CYBER HACKING HERE ON THE HOME FRONT A PLANNED DISCUSSION AT UKRAINE WAS REPORTEDLY COMPROMISED AFTER HACKERS BROUGHT EXPLICIT IMAGES DURING THE EVENT.

TYKE A LOOK.

>> WE ARE BEING TROLLED AND ATTACKED BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN FREEDOM.

YOU BEING HERE AND HOEING YOUR SUPPORT THAT THE FREE WORLD WILL WIN THAT WE ARE STRONGER THAN THE TROLLS.

>> VAHID BEHZADAN, WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL FOR CYBER HACKING HERE IN THE UNITED STATES?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT A DIRECT STATE SPONSORED ATTACK FROM RUSSIA IS LIKELY.

GIVEN THE POSSIBILITY FOR PROLIFERATION AND ESCALATION.

PATRIOTIC HACKING AND THE SIMILAR TYPES OF BREACHES FOR PROPAGANDA AND FOR AGAIN PATRIOTIC PURPOSES IS VERY LIKELY.

SO THE RISK FACTOR HAS INCREASED AND FURTHER VIGILANCE IS REQUIRED.

>> CERTAINLY THIS IS A NEW FRONT OPENING UP IN THESE GLOBAL CONFLICTS.

THANKS TO STEL VANAVANIS AND VAHID BEHZADAN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE SAVING GRACE OF THE WINTER DOLDRUMS IS THE ANTICIPATION THAT BASEBALL WILL BE BACK IN A MONTH.

EXCEPT THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE THE CASE.

OWNERS AND PLAYERS STRUCK OUT ON THE LAST CHANCE REACHING A DEAL BEFORE BREAKING OFF TALKS THAT LED TO THE CANCELLATION OF THE FIRST TWO SERIES OF THE SEASON AND POSSIBLY MORE TO COME IF THE TWO SIDES DON'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT.

AND JOINING US ON WHERE THINGS STAND ARE PAUL SULLIVAN SPORTS WRITER WHO COVERS BASEBALL FOR THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE" AND JAMES FEGAN WHO COVERS THE WHITE SOX FOR THE ATHLETIC.

WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

REMIND OUR VIEWERS HOW MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GOT TO THIS POINT.

>> WELL, BASICALLY, IT JUST AN ECONOMIC ISSUE.

MANY ISSUES.

BUT THE MAIN ONE IS THE COMPETITIVE BALANCE TAX.

THE OWNERS WANT TO SET A LOWER THRESHOLD SO THAT TO KEEP TEAMS FROM OVERSPENDING AND CREATING A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SMALL MARKETS AND THE LARGE MARKETS.

THE PLAYERS WANT TO GET THE THRESHOLD HIGHER SO MORE MONEY GOES OUT TO THE PLAYERS.

THEY WANT THE YOUNGER PLAYERS TO GET PAID EARLIER THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES.

IT'S SILLY THAT IT WASN'T RESOLVED.

BUT HERE WE ARE.

AND IT COULD BE A WHILE.

>> JAMES FEGAN, HOW FAR APART ARE THE TWO SIDES ON THESE ISSUES.

>> THEY SHOULDN'T BE EXTREMELY FAR BECAUSE THE MORE RADICAL RESTRUCTURING OF THE ECONOMICS OF THE SPORT LIKE SHORTENING THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TOOK PLAYERS TO REACH FREE AGENCY.

EARLY IN THE NEGOTIATIONS RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT A POINT WHEREAS PAUL SAID THEY ARE NEGOTIATING OVER THE CBT BUT NOT QUESTIONING WHETHER THE CBT ARE TRYING TO EXIST THEY ARE NEGOTIATING MINIMUM SALARIES BUT NOT MORE THAN 100,000 APART IN TERMS WHAT THAT SHOULD BE AFTER IT'S BEEN AGREED TO TO RAISE IT MORE THAN 100,000 FROM WHAT IT WAS.

THEY ARE ARGUING ABOUT THE PREARBITRATION POOL FOR PLAYERS.

OR THEY ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT MORE PLAYERS ENTERING ARBITRATION IT IS FINANCIAL GRADUATIONS BUT THEY HAVE AGREED ON THE STRUCTURE.

YET THE FACT THAT GAMES ARE CANCELED AND IT'S STRETCHED OUT TO THIS LENGTH DOESN'T BUILD CONFIDENCE IT WILL BE QUICKLY RESOLVED.

>> CBT THAT IS THAT COMPETITIVE BALANCE TAX TO KEEP LIKE THE NEW YORK YANKEES FROM HAVING A GIANT PAYROLL AND WINNING THE WORLD SERIES VERSUS SMALL MARKET TEAMS.

LET'S HEAR FROM THE COMMISSIONER.

HE PUT THE BLAME ON THE PLAYERS UNION SAYING THE OWNERS HAD BEEN WILLING TO COMPROMISE BUT COULD NOT REACH A DEAL.

>> WE MADE A PROPOSAL THIS AFTERNOON.

I BELIEVE WITHOUT EXCEPTION EVERY TOPIC WE HAVE MADE THE LAST PROPOSAL.

EVERY SINGLE ISSUE IN THE BASIC AGREEMENT WE HAVE MADE THE LAST PROPOSAL YOU DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSION WHO OUGHT TO GO NEXT.

>> THE FACT THEY ARE DISAGREEING ON DOLLARS, WHY HAVE THEY CUTOFF TALKS?

WHY HAVE THEY SET SUCH AN ULTIMATUM HERE?

>> WELL, IT'S THE OWNERS.

THEY ARE THE ONES LOCKING OUT THE PLAYERS.

AND HE IS TALKING ABOUT YEAH THEY'VE MADE ALL THESE GREAT PROPOSALS.

BUT THEIR PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN INCREMENTAL CHANGES EVERYONE WHERE THEY ARE ASKING THE PLAYERS TO MAKE GIANT CUTS IN THEIR PROPOSALS.

AS FAR AS FINANCES.

HE IS BEING DISINGENUOUS THERE.

THE OWNERS DID NOT GO TO TABLE.

THEY DIDN'T START THE TALKS FOR LIKE 40, 50 DAYS AFTER THEY STARTED THE LOCKOUT.

THERE IS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH BUT IT'S ALL ON THE OWNERS.

>> JAMES FEGAN DOES THIS MEAN THE SEASON COULD SEE MORE THAN THE FIRST TWO SERIES CANCELED IF THE OWNERS OR BOTH SIDES DON'T SHOW SOME SENSE OF URGENCY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY ARE ONLY CANCELING THE TWO SERIES BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THEY ARE AT IN TERMS THEY NEEDS TO BE A FOUR-WEEK BUILDUP OF SPRING TRAINING.

WE ARE ON MARCH 2, THAT WOULD TAKE THEM TO MARCH 30TH OR THE 31.

AND THE BEST CASE SCENARIO.

EVERYDAY THAT IT STRETCHES ON ANOTHER WEEK THAT IT GOES YOU CAN EXPECT THEM TO CANCEL MORE GAMES.

AND PART OF THE REASON THAT THEY WOULD DO THAT IS TIME IS THE WEAPON OF OWNERSHIP.

THE PART OF THE SEASON THEY CARE ABOUT IS NOT SO MUCH APRIL IT'S THE PLAYOFFS WHERE THEY HAVE HEIGHTENED REVENUES FOR PLAYOFF BROADCASTS AND TELEVISION CONTRACTS.

THE PLAYERS ARE DEPENDING ON THE GAME CHECKS OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEASON.

LOSING GAMES IN APRIL HURTS THE PLAYERS MORE THAN THE OWNERS AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THAT.

>> YOU OFTEN SEE COLD EMPTY BALL PARKS IN APRIL BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER AND BECAUSE IT IS THE BEGINNING.

PAUL SULLIVAN HOW ARE THE PLAYERS REACTING?

YOU MENTIONED OWNERS HAVE NOT GIVEN MUCH AND THEY HAVE THE LEVERAGE OF TIME.

DO THE PLAYERS FEEL LIKE THEY WANT TO GIVE UP MORE TO GET PLAYING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE?

>> IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT.

OF COURSE THEY ARE NOT REALLY AVAILABLE TO TALK RIGHT NOW.

BUT SEEING WHAT THEY SAY ON TWITTER AND THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA, THEY SEEM UNITED ABOUT THIS.

THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HOLD OUT UNTIL THEY CAN.

BUT I THINK HONESTLY AS MUNICIPAL AS I HATE TO SAY IT, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE THE L AND COME DOWN QUITE A BIT FROM WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR.

BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T I DON'T SEE THE OWNERS THIS COULD GO ON ALL SEASON.

>> IF THAT IS THE CASE JAMES FEGAN IS THIS GOING TO BE A BLOW TO THE SPORT LIKE THE STRIKE BACK IN THE MID-90s WAS?

>> I THINK IT IS A HARD TO SAY.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT DYING FEELS LIKE BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT BEFORE.

WE CAN'T CLASSIFY HOW MUCH DAMAGE THIS WILL DO TO THE SPORT OR COMPARE IT TO 1994.

THE PROLIFERATION OF OPTIONS AND THE DILL LOSE OF THE MARKET SHARE CANNOT COMPARE IT TO PAST EXAMPLES.

BUT IT IS A SPORT THAT IS OLDER AND LOSING MARKET SHARE TO THE NFL AND NBA.

IT FEELS LIKE THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME TO GO THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THAT BUT IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW DAMAGING IT WOULD BE AND THEY PROBABLY SHOULDN'T TRY AND FIND OUT.

>> EVEN IF THEY DO COME TO AN AGREEMENT THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED ABOUT THE SPORT.

THE PACE OF THE GAME.

JUST THE LACK OF CONTACT.

THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES THAT TURNED FANS OFF BEFORE ALL THE ECONOMIC TURMOIL.

>> AND THE RATINGS FOR WORLD SERIES HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN.

THERE WAS THAT FIELD OF DREAMS GAME THAT WAS A BIG SUCCESS.

THANKS TO PAUL SULLIVAN AND JAMES FEGAN THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, THE SEA CREATURES THAT RULED THE OCEAN DURING THE JURASSIC PERIOD.

BUT FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> AT FIELD MUSEUM IS DIVING DEEP TO INTRODUCE VISITORS TO UNDERWATER WILDLIFE THAT LIVED 200 MILLION YEARS AGO.

PRODUCER MARC VITALI HAS A PREVIEW OF THE EXHIBITION JURASSIC OCEANS MONSTERS OF THE DEEP.

[♪♪♪] >> WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE LAND CREATURES LIKE THE PLESIOSAUR THRIVED IN THE SEA.

THROUGH ANIMATION, MODELS AND SPECIMENS THE FIELD MUSEUM SHEDS LIGHT ON THE FASCINATING AND THE FIERCE.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING UNDER THE SEAS IN THE TIME OF THE DINOSAURS.

THE MARINE REPTILES THAT RULED THE OCEAN.

THINGS LIKE PLESIOSAUR, AND ICHTHYOSAUR AND THE OTHER CREATURES AROUND YOU.

>> THE LOCKNESS MONSTER WAS THOUGHT TO BE A SURVIVING PLESIOSAUR.

THE PLESIOSAUR IS KNOWN FOR THE LONG NECK A COOL FEATURE BECAUSE IT USED IT TO SNEAK UP ON THINGS.

THE SMALL HEAD COULD GET CLOSE BEFORE THE LARGE BODY APPEARED TO THE PREY.

>> THE MUSEUM IS THE FIRST U.S. STOP FOR A SHOW THAT CAME FROM ACROSS THE SEA.

>> ALL OF THE FOSSILS ARE COMING FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM IN LONDON MOST FROM THE U.K. ONE OF THE BEST PLACES IN THE WORLD TO FIND A LOT OF THESE MARINE REPTILE FOSSILS.

THE EXHIBITION INCLUDES SOME REALLY AMAZING ANIMATIONS THAT CAN HELP YOU SEE WHAT THE CREATURES LOOKED LIKE AS THEY WERE SWIMMING AROUND, HUNTING, THREING TO AVOID BEING HUNTED AND MANY FOSSILS INCLUDING FOSSILS THAT VISITORS CAN TOUCH.

>> TOUCHABLE ITEM DOSE NOT INCLUDE COP PRO LIGHTS.

THE PIANO ON DISPLAY.

>> WE HAVE THE ECOSYSTEM REPRESENTED FROM THE HUNTERS TO THE PREDATORS DOWN TO THE INVERT BRATS AND FISH THAT THEY ARE EATING.

YOU MAY SEE THINGS LIKE THE ICHTHYOSAUR THAT LOOK FAMILIAR BECAUSE THEY LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE THE SHAPE OF DOLL MINUTES AND THEY WERE -- DOLPHINS AND THEY ARE NOT RELATED.

THE LONG SNOUT AND THE ABILITY TO CUT THROUGH THE WATER.

>> NOT EVERY SPECIMEN HAILS FROM THE JURASSIC PERIOD.

A SHARK TOOTH COMES FROM THE JAWS OF MEGALODON THREE TIMES THE SIZE OF A GREAT WHITE.

MEGALODON WAS NOT A JURASSIC SHARK.

>> THE EXHIBITION INCLUDES SHARKS AS WELL.

ANCIENT SHARKS LIKE THE MEGALODON THE LARGEST SHARK TO LIVE IT LIVED MILLIONS OF YEAR AFTER THE REPTILES BUT IT INHERITED THE SEAS LATER ON.

>> YOU CAN REALLY DIVE IN TO SEE ALL THE CREATURES OF THE PAST AND IMAGINE THE WORLD AS IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.

THE JURASSIC OCEANS WERE FULL OF LIFE AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE ECOSYSTEM.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" THIS IS MARC VITALI.

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THE JURASSIC OCEANS EXHIBITION JUST OPENEDDALITY THE FIELD MUSEUM AND RUNS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 5.

YOU CAN SEE MORE ON OUR WEBSITE.

TOMORROW, THAT OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.

THE LATEST ON THE FEDERAL INDICTMENT OF LONG TIME ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN.

>> AND A LOCAL CHURCH SERVES AS AN ANCHOR AS WAR IN UKRAINE ERUPTS LIVE FROM THE O'HARE AREA AS PART OF OUR "IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES".

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

>> I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]