The campaign, which began in early 2017, culminated in Ochoa’s appointment in April 2019, according to the document. That’s when ComEd first reported in its proxy that Ochoa was on the board, again without comment.

As it turned out, Ochoa was off the board well before he could collect his full $78,000. He earned $53,692 before leaving, according to ComEd’s proxy. Ochoa attended a total of three board meetings before departing, the proxy said.

Ochoa is politically connected, having run the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority from 2007 until 2010.

Asked when Ochoa left the board and why, a ComEd spokesman declined to comment. Ochoa didn’t immediately respond to a voicemail and a LinkedIn message.

Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, who retired abruptly from Exelon last fall as the investigation heated up, was the individual McClain pressured to help Ochoa, according to the federal document. Facing “internal opposition,” she asked McClain at one point if it would suffice to find Ochoa something else that paid $78,000 a year, the amount ComEd pays its directors. She was told to “keep pressing.”

Ochoa finally was named to the board in April 2019, and just one month later federal investigators were raiding the homes and offices of McClain and others as the ComEd probe launched in earnest.

Madigan has denied any misconduct and has not been charged with any wrongdoing.