The brief remark offered the greatest public glimpse into the relationship between the two men, aside from their body language in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge John Blakey, since they found themselves on trial for a racketeering conspiracy.

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.

For the second day in a row, the famously tight-lipped former Speaker of the Illinois House Michael Madigan testified in his federal corruption trial.