>>> FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ARE PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN ON MICHAEL MADISON'S POWER IN SPRINGFIELD AS THE TRIAL OF HIS TOP AIDES STARTS THIS WEEK.

THAT AND MUCH MORE IN OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS.

JOINING US TONIGHT IS WBZ REPORTER.

WELCOME BACK.

TESTIMONY HAS STARTED IN THE TRIAL WHO WAS A PERFORMANCE SPEAKER , MICHAEL MADIGAN , SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, MICHAEL MADIGAN.

REMIND US OF WHAT LAWS HE IS CHARGED WITH MAKING.

>> THE CHIEF OF STAFF BASICALLY RAN THE SHOW.

THE MAJOR THE TRAINS CAME IN ON TIME OR THE ILLINOIS DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

HE WAS THE KIND THAT REALLY RAN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND HE IS CHARGED WITH TAKING FALSE STATEMENTS TO THE GRAND JURY RELATED TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MIKE MADIGAN AND LOBBYIST WHO WAS A CLOSE MADIGAN CONFIDANT.

WE KNOW MacLEAN IS ALSO CHARGED IN THESE ALLEGATIONS.

WE ALSO KNOW HE PLEADED GUILTY TO A COVERT PROSECUTION AND SO FAR HAS BEEN THE BIG TENT.

WHEN THE GRAND JURY QUESTIONED HIM ABOUT THE WHOLE THING, THEY SAY THAT HE LIED ABOUT -- LIED ABOUT MacLEAN AND MADIGAN RELATIONSHIP.

THE FEDS WOULD BE HAPPY TO DROP THIS CASE.

THEY KNOW EVERYTHING AND WOULD GIVE UP ANYTHING ON MY MADIGAN TO MAKE THAT CASE STRONGER.

SO THIS CASE IS PROCEEDING TO TRIAL.

>> THE FORMER HOUSE LEADER AND RETIRED DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER WAS CALLED TO TESTIFY, TODAY.

WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM HIM AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO THE CURRENT PULLBACK ON POLITICS?

>> BILLS ARE CALLED , LEGISLATORS WHAT THEY DO ALL THE TIME AND HOW MUCH MADIGAN AS SPEAKER WAS THE CENTER OF ALL OF THIS FOR YEARS.

SOMEONE PRESENTED TODAY TO HARRIS BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHOW JURORS HOW HE OPERATED FOR SO MANY YEARS , HOW HE CONTROLLED THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AT LARGE AND HE DID WORK FOR THREE DECADES AND WOULD ALLEGEDLY LIE TO PREVENT HIM FROM GOING INTO THE INVESTIGATION SO THIS ISN'T ANY BOMBSHELL INFORMATION, NECESSARILY .

GIVING PROSECUTORS A GLIMPSE INTO WHAT HIS MINDSET WAS IN 2021.

EXPECT A BIT OF HIS EXPERTISE.

IN PARIS, MAY , PROSECUTORS , MADIGAN GOES ON TRIAL IN APRIL.

HOW MIGHT MAKE A STRONG IMPACT THE CASE?

>> CONVICTION REALLY IMPACT MEDICINE CASE.

ANY CHANCE FOR ACQUITTAL FOR MY MADIGAN, THIS WOULD BE ANOTHER NOTCH IF CONVICTED AND I WILL REITERATE, I THINK THE FEDS WANT TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF HIM AND HE JUST HASN'T GIVEN IT UP.

HE IS JUST NOT GOING TO DO IT.

>> DEFENSE ATTORNEYS HAVE SAID HE REALLY DID NOT RECALL AND HE SAID I DO NOT HAVE ANY RECOLLECTION.

THEY ARE SAYING THAT IS TRUTHFUL AND HE ACTUALLY DID NOT REMEMBER FROM THE 600 QUESTIONS HE WAS ASKED.

IF FOUND GUILTY, WHAT KIND OF TIME COULD HE BE FACING?

>> IF HE IS CONVICTED OF PERJURY, HE COULD FACE UP TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR THAT IS 20 YEARS.

>> I DEBATE WHETHER OR NOT TO ASK THIS ONE: IF HE IS FOUND GUILTY, IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE HIS MIND IF HE STARTS SINGING ON MADIGAN?

>> I AM GOING TO GUESS THAT HE IS NOT GOING TO BE HUMMING ANY TUNE ANYTIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF PRISON SENTENCE THEY SLAPPED HIM WITH SHOULD HE BE CONVICTED.

>> LET'S START WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, THREE FINALISTS FOR TOP COPS.

WHO IS LARRY SNELLING?

>> LARRY SALLY IS THE CHIEF OF COUNTERTERRORISM, A LONGTIME VETERAN OF THE DEPARTMENT WHO HAS BEEN THERE FOR DECADES AND DISTRICT COMMANDER FOR THE TRAINING AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DESIRE FROM MAYOR JOHNSON, ALL OF THE OTHERS TO SEE SOMEONE WHO COMES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, SOMEONE WHO CAN REBUILD MORALE .

HE IS ALSO SIDE -- TIED TO CPD AND ALSO A VETERAN OF THE DEPARTMENT WHO HAS BEEN THERE FOR DECADES.

THE THIRD FINALIST IS THE MADISON WISCONSIN CHIEF OF POLICE BUT HE DID HAVE A STENT IN CHICAGO SO THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES.

>>> WHEN WILL WE KNOW THE SUPERINTENDENT TO TAKE IN?

>> BRENDA JUSTIN TO COMPLETE THOSE TYPICALLY HAVE 30 DAYS.

IT WILL BE IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS OR SO BUT IT IS INTERESTING, THERE IS THIS POST FROM SOME OLDER PEOPLE AND SELLING AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE JOB AND WHAT HIS PAIN WAS ABOUT AND WHAT HIS CREDENTIALS ARE, YOU WOULD THINK THAT SOMEONE LIKE SHAWN BARNES, SOMEONE WHO WAS WITH COPPOLA INVESTIGATING POLICE, YOU WONDER IF HE GOES WITH THE AND MATTER, DOES HE GET PUSHED BACK FROM THE PROGRESSIVE WHO SUPPORTED HIM VERSUS SUPPORT OF THE MORE CENTERLEFT, ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY DO WANT SOMEONE IN THE DEPARTMENT .

>> A FEDERAL JUDGE HELD A HEALING TODAY ABOUT POLICY.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED?

>> THIS WAS A HEARING TO GIVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO GIVE INPUT ON THIS PROPOSAL BETWEEN THE CITY AND ILLINOIS AG TO TRANSFER STOCK POLICY TO THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE .

ADVOCATES RELEASE YOUR THERAPIES, TALKED ABOUT HOW SOME STOP AND FRISK IS REALLY STOP AND ARREST .

DATA SHOWS BLACK AND LATINO'S ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY STOPPED COMPARED TO WHITE SO THEY ARE ADVOCATING AND WANT TO SEE STRONGER MECHANISMS IN PLACE TO ASSURE THAT THE ONES RACE OR LOCATION IS NOT A FACTOR.

ULTIMATELY, THE JUDGE WILL MAKE A DECISION, TODAY.

>>> MOVING ON, KAMALA HARRIS BACK IN TOWN ON FRIDAY, IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF HER IN CHICAGO, LATELY.

THIS IS HER FOURTH TRIP.

>>> THERE'S A LOT OF CHICAGO MONEY.

PEOPLE REJECT THE -- JOKINGLY , KAMALA HARRIS IS 30 OUT THERE AS A FRONT PERSON TO TRY AND STRIKE THIS CAMPAIGN OFF OF THE SECOND TERM FOR THE BODY -HARRIS ADMINISTRATION.

YOU HAVE THE 2024 DNC IN CHICAGO , CHICAGO CENTRAL FOR THE PLANS FOR DEMOCRATS.

NOT ONLY HAVE THEY THIS EVENT BUT THERE WAS A LATINO AMERICAN EVENT THAT SHE SPOKE AT.

YOU'VE GOT GOVERNOR PRITZKER WHO HAS A LOT OF SWAY IN THIS PARTY.

HE'S GOT SPEED DIAL AND A LOT