Prosecutors seem less concerned about justice and deterrence than bringing down Madigan, the alleged beneficiary of ComEd's bribes. Madigan has pleaded not guilty to bribery charges, as have the four defendants currently on trial. But in their zeal to reel in the biggest of all political fish, prosecutors overlooked the reality that bribery requires two willing participants. Companies that need favorable treatment from lawmakers will use any available tool to get it. Of course, executives generally aren't predisposed to criminality and rarely start out with an intention to knowingly break the law.