Ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan used his perch at the very top of state politics to betray the public trust, federal prosecutors said in opening statements at Madigan’s public corruption trial Monday,

The one-time powerful Illinois House speaker and a longtime confidant are charged with racketeering, bribery, conspiracy, and wire fraud.

Opening statements began Monday in the federal corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Capitol News Illinois reports prosecutors spent nearly two hours previewing their case against Madigan. The ex-speaker is charged with racketeering, bribery, wire fraud and extortion in a case the feds spent years building.