CHICAGO (WLS) — A former ComEd executive — turned government informant — was back on the stand Wednesday for his fifth day in the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan at the federal building Dirksen.

Fidel Marquez was pressed by the defense.

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Mike McClain’s team finished its cross-examination of Marquez on Wednesday, before Madigan’s team began.

The defense attempted to challenge Márquez’s credibility as a witness.

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They said he agreed to wear a wire for the FBI in January 2019 to get out of trouble, hid money from his wife during divorce proceedings and lied on a gun purchase form in Arizona last month, saying he had not been convicted of a crime.

Marquez’s cooperation came in exchange for a deal in which ComEd’s former chief lobbyist pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to bribe Madigan. Marquez faces a maximum sentence of five years. The government offered him a prison sentence in exchange for his truthful testimony.

Marquez explained what appears to be a flow of jobs from ComEd to Madigan allies, whether qualified or not.

Prosecutors say McClain, a ComEd lobbyist and Madigan co-defendant, was the go-between.

Defense lawyers spent Tuesday trying to show that the tape conversations were normal lobbying.

McClain’s attorney, Patrick Cotter, became increasingly agitated Wednesday morning as he attacked Marquez.

“Do you think you can plead guilty to something and not be convicted?” » asked Cotter. “Did the word crime resonate with you on March 8, 2024? This part of the legal procedure: do you remember the five years?”

“I’m not a lawyer. I haven’t thought about it,” Márquez stammered, as he struggled to explain why he lied.

“You were found in contempt of court for not transferring certain assets during divorce proceedings, correct?” » asked Madigan’s lawyer, Tom Breen.

Marquez replied “yes”.

“You were threatened with prison time if you did not transfer certain securities or assets, correct?” » asked Breen.

Marquez said “yes” again.

“The truth is in the eye of the beholder, right?” » asked Breen. “In whose eye do you speak the truth?”

“I think it would be the government,” Márquez said.

Marquez admitted to meeting with government lawyers about 20 times over the past three months. Something defense attorneys have tried to assimilate into training.

Marquez is not the only person to wear a microphone for the government as investigators try to build their case against Madigan.

Former Alderman Daniel Solis also did so.

Solis is expected to testify soon, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

The assistant U.S. attorney said Solis was expected next week.

Madigan and McClain face corruption and racketeering charges.

The trial is expected to last until December.

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