A major Democrat local to Chicago’s city politics was convicted on a series of corruption charges on Thursday.
Former Chicago alderman Edward Burke was found guilty of 13 charges relating to corruption, bribery, attempted extortion, and racketeering. The former alderman was originally being tried on 14 charges but was only found guilty of 13.
Burke is reportedly the longest-serving alderman in the history of the city with a career that spanned 54 years.
The Chicago Democrat has long been seen as a kingmaker and a cornerstone of local Democrat politics in Chicago.
Multiple outlets provided coverage of Edward Burke’s charges, trial, and the ensuing conviction:
A federal jury found former Chicago alderman Edward Burke, the longest-serving alderperson in Chicago history, guilty of racketeering, bribery and extortion. He was accused of abusing his position to steer property tax appeals work to his private law firm https://t.co/nuzmSD670T pic.twitter.com/HVj0JeLLTP
— Reuters Legal (@ReutersLegal) December 22, 2023
The jury has reached a verdict in the historic corruption trial of former Chicago Ald. Edward Burke, the Democratic political machine master accused of using the clout of his elected office to win private law business from developers.https://t.co/nhRiVGPT0Z
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) December 21, 2023
Ed Burke was the second youngest alderman in Chicago history when he was sworn in by Mayor Richard J. Daley on March 11, 1969.
The only person to sit on City Council at a younger age was Col. Robert R. McCormick, future publisher of the Chicago Tribune:https://t.co/iw2BMKaigQ
— Kori Rumore Finley (@rumormill) December 21, 2023
The Chicago Tribune provided local coverage:
The jury of nine women and three men deliberated for about 23 hours over four days before reaching its verdict on the 19-count indictment.
In addition to racketeering, Burke also was found guilty of federal program bribery, attempted extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion and using interstate commerce to facilitate an unlawful activity.
Chicago Tribune Writer Jason Meisner writes: “My trusty list of Chicago aldermen charged with crimes since 1972 needs a bit of updating tonight, as Ed Burke slips over into the “convicted” category, which now stands at 39.
Yes, that’s thirty-nine. 11 shy of a full City Council’s worth.”
My trusty list of Chicago aldermen charged with crimes since 1972 needs a bit of updating tonight, as Ed Burke slips over into the “convicted” category, which now stands at 39.
Yes, that’s thirty-nine. 11 shy of a full City Council’s worth. pic.twitter.com/WnWSXAdLNO— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) December 22, 2023
Reuters had more details on Burke’s case:
Prosecutors alleged Burke pressured developers to hire his law firm for their property tax appeals by withholding his approval for permits unless they became clients.
Burke also threatened to block a bid by Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History to increase admission fees because the museum did not respond to his inquiry about an internship for his friend’s child, prosecutors said.
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