Excellent column. Michael McClain is the son of Elmo 'Mac' McClain who had a heart attack on the floor of the Illinois House. He was voting on the Equal Rights Amendment! They were an Irish Catholic family and well liked in Quincy, Illinois.
My dad would campaign for Mr. McClain and I would tag along, handing out pamphlets. Ive known Mike for years, exchanging Christmas cards, etc. He's married to Lucinda, also an attorney. I was pretty surprised to learn of Mike's involvement. I always thought the entire McClain family was terrific-his sister and I used to hang. He's serving his sentence now, I believe. He has heart problems, too. It's a shame.
Illinois has a helluva history of corrupt behavior for sure. I learned new stuff here, Charles. Thanks!
Thanks, Susan. I guess it’s a lesson in “just because someone screws up doesn’t make them a jerk.” It happens all the time. Criminality doesn’t imply evil. I think white collar crime is especially nuanced that way. As I understand it, he worked for ComEd. Was he actually working under orders from someone else there? I wouldn’t be shocked. Sometimes, white collar crime is so complex that they don’t even realize they’re committing a crime. I never thought Martha Stewart deserved what she got, and I don’t even really like her, lol.
Madigan knew what he was doing, for sure, and so I guess I’d argue that Mr. McClain should have known, too, since, well, everyone in Illinois knew what Madigan was up to. But McClain still could have thought that what he was doing was not necessarily illegal. I really don’t know. I’m talking out my butt because I didn’t pay close attention to the trial until its last couple weeks, and I’ve already forgotten 98% of it.
Either way, he should be fine. Just a two-year sentence, probably in a minimum security place, so maybe he’s already out, and you’ll get a Christmas card this year! :-)
Hot tip: If there’s money in it, return to sender!!!!!!
Well, thanks for that update. I hope he has a peaceful rest of his life. I never thought he was a bad person. I wont hold my breath for that card, tho! 😂😂
This was excellent Charles! I learned so much by reading it. Thank you!
Thanks!
Excellent column. Michael McClain is the son of Elmo 'Mac' McClain who had a heart attack on the floor of the Illinois House. He was voting on the Equal Rights Amendment! They were an Irish Catholic family and well liked in Quincy, Illinois.
My dad would campaign for Mr. McClain and I would tag along, handing out pamphlets. Ive known Mike for years, exchanging Christmas cards, etc. He's married to Lucinda, also an attorney. I was pretty surprised to learn of Mike's involvement. I always thought the entire McClain family was terrific-his sister and I used to hang. He's serving his sentence now, I believe. He has heart problems, too. It's a shame.
Illinois has a helluva history of corrupt behavior for sure. I learned new stuff here, Charles. Thanks!
Thanks, Susan. I guess it’s a lesson in “just because someone screws up doesn’t make them a jerk.” It happens all the time. Criminality doesn’t imply evil. I think white collar crime is especially nuanced that way. As I understand it, he worked for ComEd. Was he actually working under orders from someone else there? I wouldn’t be shocked. Sometimes, white collar crime is so complex that they don’t even realize they’re committing a crime. I never thought Martha Stewart deserved what she got, and I don’t even really like her, lol.
Madigan knew what he was doing, for sure, and so I guess I’d argue that Mr. McClain should have known, too, since, well, everyone in Illinois knew what Madigan was up to. But McClain still could have thought that what he was doing was not necessarily illegal. I really don’t know. I’m talking out my butt because I didn’t pay close attention to the trial until its last couple weeks, and I’ve already forgotten 98% of it.
Either way, he should be fine. Just a two-year sentence, probably in a minimum security place, so maybe he’s already out, and you’ll get a Christmas card this year! :-)
Hot tip: If there’s money in it, return to sender!!!!!!
One more thought…his dad and mom were just beautiful people…. I’m glad they are not here to see what happened. They would be devastated.
Since I left Quincy, I’ve lost track of Mike…until now. He wasnt dumb, he had to know what he was doing. He is a lawyer and was a lobbyist.
I’m sure he’s still in prison after he got a new trial. https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/7th-circuit-orders-release-new-trial-for-two-comed-four-defendants/
Yeah…no Christmas card for me now. 😂
Well, now that the DOJ is in Trump's hands with a bunch of incompetent prosecutors, and it's a Trump judge, he'll probably be out in a week.
Christmas card incoming!
Edit: Oh, he's already out. On a bond. Yeah, he's never going back to prison.
Well, thanks for that update. I hope he has a peaceful rest of his life. I never thought he was a bad person. I wont hold my breath for that card, tho! 😂😂
I'll send you one of those online American Greetings cards to make up for it. 🥳