In surprising move, former longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has taken the stand at his own corruption trial.

Ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan is set to return to the stand Wednesday morning, continuing testimony that will surely be some of the most crucial and closely examined of the bombshell public corruption trial.

Madigan and his co-defendant – longtime confidant Michael McClain – are on trial on racketeering and bribery charges​.

Former House Speaker Michael Madigan will take the witness stand in his corruption trial – an unexpected revelation that will likely stretch the already lengthy trial into late January. The longtime House speaker’s decision to testify is a risk,

The former speaker is arguably one of the most notable former politicians to testify in their own defense since former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

The former Illinois House Speaker returns to the witness stand Wednesday after giving a three-hour testimony the day before.

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan may testify at his own public corruption trial. Lawyers conferred Tuesday morning over a number of issues, including Madigan potentially forfeiting his right to testify at a later bench trial but not waiving his right to testify before the jury.