Former AT&T State President Asks Judge to Dismiss Bribery Case

Former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza asked the U.S. District Court of Northern Illinois to toss bribery and racketeering charges against him after a trial ended in a hung jury (see 2409200025). La Schiazza was accused two years ago of authorizing monthly payments totaling $22,500 to a close ally of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D). Madigan then pushed through legislation backed by La Schiazza making it easier for AT&T to terminate its costly carrier of last resort obligation to continue providing landline services to Illinois residents, according to an indictment. “The government called only two witnesses with personal knowledge of the events on which the charges are based,” said the latest court pleading: “One of those witnesses, Stephen Selcke, testified that there was no bribe. … Simply put, this was a case the government attempted to prove by speculation and argument rather than evidence.” The case is before Judge Robert Gettleman.