Former Democratic state Rep. Eddie Acevedo said Thursday he was interviewed last fall by the FBI regarding lobbying activities and separate consultant fees paid to him by two ComEd lobbyists with ties to Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan.
The FBI’s interview of Acevedo, who has not been accused of wrongdoing, took place as federal authorities investigated the lobbying practices of ComEd and Exelon and kept pressing forward with a widespread corruption probe that reached from Chicago’s City Hall to the Illinois statehouse.
Acevedo, a former police officer, told the Tribune Thursday he worked as a consultant paid by John Bradley, a former House Democrat from Marion who was a contract lobbyist for ComEd until last November. Acevedo said he previously worked as a consultant in a similar role for lobbyist Shaw Decremer, a former Democratic House staffer and campaign operative ousted from the speaker’s political organization following complaints that he was abusive.
Bradley paid as much as $5,000 a month, Acevedo said. But Acevedo said he worked for Bradley less than a year, an arrangement that ended two or more years ago.
Acevedo said he could not remember the fee or the length of time he received the payments from Decremer, but that a consulting arrangement moved to Bradley once Decremer was booted from Madigan’s operation in 2018.
Decremer had no comment, saying only, “I don’t talk.” Bradley could not be reached for comment.
A spokesman for U.S. Attorney John Lausch declined to comment Thursday on the investigation. A Madigan spokeswoman had no comment.
Acevedo said he did not lobby for ComEd, but he said he was a consultant for Bradley about ComEd issues.
The Sun-Times first reported that federal authorities issued a subpoena to the secretary of state for all records related to Acevedo, his sons Michael and Alexander Acevedo, and their lobbying firm Apex Strategy LLC.
The subpoena is dated March 23, but Acevedo said he did not know why federal authorities just got around to seeking lobbyist records.
“I haven’t done anything wrong,” Acevedo said. “I’ve been out of politics.”
The subpoena was sent by the same prosecutor who is heading up the corruption case against longtime 14th Ward Ald. Edward Burke, as well as working on the ongoing ComEd probe.
The former lawmaker said his sons also were interviewed by federal authorities but had little information to give them. Alexander Acevedo was previously registered with the state as a lobbyist, while Michael Acevedo’s lobbyist registration is current, records show.
The elder Acevedo previously was registered as a lobbyist for state government, though he was not registered with ComEd. The lines between advocating and lobbying can be blurred, but Acevedo insisted he did not lobby lawmakers or government officials for ComEd.
As part of the investigation, authorities are scrutinizing certain ComEd executives and have zeroed in on payments through the company’s vast network of consultants to some individuals to seemingly circumvent lobbying disclosure rules, a source has told the Tribune.
Among the payments, authorities suspect, were thousands of dollars in checks written to Kevin Quinn, who was cut loose from Madigan’s political and government team when a female campaign worker alleged sexual harassment. Quinn is the brother of Ald. Marty Quinn, who represents the 13th Ward, where Madigan has reigned as Democratic committeeman for decades. The Tribune first reported the checks were under scrutiny in July.
Bradley, once a member of Madigan’s leadership team, was among five former or current ComEd lobbyists who sent Kevin Quinn at least $31,000, according to bank records the Tribune reviewed.
Emails obtained by the Tribune showed that longtime Madigan confidant Michael McClain, who is a retired ComEd lobbyist, orchestrated the payments to help out Quinn for “six months, maximum.”
ComEd and parent company Exelon have acknowledged receiving two federal subpoenas. The companies have said they are cooperating but not commenting.
One of the ComEd subpoenas asked for records of communications with state Sen. Martin Sandoval, a Chicago Democrat who has pleaded guilty to bribery and tax charges and agreed to cooperate in the probe.
Several of Madigan’s political associates have attracted scrutiny from federal prosecutors. The Tribune reported in December that federal authorities have asked questions about Madigan and his political operation as part of an ongoing investigation, according to four people who have been interviewed.
The sources, all of whom requested anonymity, said FBI agents and prosecutors asked about connections between ComEd lobbyists and Madigan, lobbyists giving contracts to people tied to the speaker, and city, state and suburban government jobs held by his associates.
Madigan’s most direct response to reporter questions came last fall when he was asked if he is a target of a federal investigation: “I’m not a target of anything,” Madigan replied.
The Tribune also has reported that sources said federal authorities recorded McClain’s phone calls. It is unknown if the FBI listened in on any calls between McClain and Madigan, who is famously cautious about what he says in public and over the phone.
