(The Center Square) – Former Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis, now a cooperating witness for the federal government, has started testifying at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain.

Government attorney Diane MacArthur called Solis to the witness stand shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday. The 75-year-old Solis said that he secretly cooperated with government investigators for about 2 1/2 years and entered a deferred prosecution agreement, which allowed that he would not be prosecuted while cooperating. Solis admitted that he still faced a pending bribery charge for soliciting campaign contributions from a developer with a pending zoning application in his community.