Jury finds ex-Ald. Ed Burke guilty on all counts but one
(The Center Square) – A jury found former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke guilty of all counts expect one in his corruption case Thursday, adding to a string of high-profile guilty verdicts brought home by federal prosecutors this year.
Burke was indicted in 2019 on 19 counts of racketeering, extortion and bribery. Prosecutors accused the longtime Alderman of using his power to steer business to his private law practice, which specializes in property tax appeals. Burke served as the head of the city’s powerful Finance Committee before he stepped down in May.
Burke was convicted of racketeering, bribery, attempted extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion and using interstate commerce to facilitate an unlawful activity. He was acquitted on one count of conspiracy to commit extortion related to the redevelopment of a Burger King.
Prosecutors accused Burke of corruptly soliciting work for his private law firm from companies involved in redevelopment projects at the Old Main Post Office in downtown Chicago and a Burger King in Burke’s ward on the Southwest Side. It also alleges that he corruptly attempted to assist a business owner with a development on the Northwest Side shortly after the business owner told Burke that he would engage Burke’s law firm. The firm, Klafter & Burke, specialized in seeking property tax reductions for corporate clients.
The charges also allege that Burke threatened to oppose a Chicago museum’s admission fee increase because the museum failed to respond to Burke’s inquiry about an internship at the museum for a child of Burke’s friend.
Racketeering, attempted extortion, and conspiracy to commit extortion are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Federal program bribery is punishable by up to ten years. Using interstate commerce to promote unlawful activity and making a false statement to the FBI are each punishable by up to five years.
Better Government Association President David Greising stated, “The jury’s verdict is a clear warning to elected officials: Illinois residents will not put up with government corruption, and we are willing to stand up and hold public officials accountable. While Burke’s corruption is another sad chapter in Chicago’s history, the jury’s action also is a step forward and an affirmative statement that the bad old days are coming to an end.”
Burke is married to former Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke.
In May, federal prosecutors secured guilty verdicts in the case of the ComEd 4, four former executives and lobbyists at the state’s largest utility convicted of a nine-year scheme to bride former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
In August, a federal jury found Madigan’s former chief of staff guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice charges, convicting him of lying to a grand jury to protect his former boss. Tim Mapes, 68, served for years under Madigan as the clerk of the Illinois House and as Madigan’s chief of staff.
