"Closing Arguments Commence in Tim Mapes Perjury Trial, Potential Star Witness Emerges"

Closing arguments have begun in the perjury trial of Tim Mapes, former chief of staff to Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan. Mapes is accused of lying to a federal grand jury during the investigation into Madigan and his political operation. Prosecutors argue that Mapes could have been a valuable witness but chose to protect his friends by obstructing the process. Mapes faces up to 20 years in prison for obstruction of justice and up to five years for perjury. The defense claims that Mapes did his best to provide truthful answers but struggled to remember due to the stressful nature of the grand jury setting.