Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan testified in his corruption trial Wednesday that he was taken aback when then-Ald. Daniel Solis told him over the phone that the developers of a West Loop condo tower understood “the quid pro quo” of hiring Madigan’s law firm.

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

House Speaker Michael Madigan is planning to take the stand in his own public corruption trial, his lawyers said in court Tuesday. After a morning break, Madigan’s lead attorney, Dan Collins, told the judge that Madigan would be the next witness.

Mike Madigan and Mike McClain have known each other since they both were state representatives in the 1970s, but their decades of friendship is now strained in the face of multiple corruption charges.

After an extended 18-day holiday break in testimony, attorneys for ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan on Monday unveiled a new prong of their defense: that the speaker had long-established protocols to prevent conflicts of interest between his government work and his private law practice.

Madigan, the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history, was charged with bribery, racketeering, wire fraud, and other crimes.

Madigan is accused of using his power and influence to arrange for no-show jobs for his allies, and business for his own law firm.

Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan was back on the witness stand on Wednesday, for a second day of questioning in his federal corruption trial.