In his testimony earlier this month, former House Speaker Michael Madigan cast himself as a champion of the working class, a consensus-builder who used his power to bring people together on legislation and protect constituents from greedy utilities and corporations.

After three months, more than five dozen witnesses and an array of thorny legal scuffles, attorneys in the landmark corruption trial of ex-speaker Michael Madigan are slated to begin presenting closing arguments Wednesday.

Madigan, 82, and his co-defendant, political ally and confidant Michael McClain, are accused of running a criminal enterprise designed to enrich the former speaker and his associates and increase his political power.