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The Chicago Sun-Times reports:
Ed Burke has not yet officially landed on the feds’ “naughty” list, but Santa Claus himself joined over a thousand others bearing gifts Tuesday to support Chicago’s most powerful alderman despite the cloud of a federal investigation.
The St. Nick lookalike rode past the Sheraton Grand atop a firetruck bearing a sign declaring “I’m for Ald. Ed Burke,” as the Friends of Edward M. Burke showed themselves to be friends indeed.
They turned out in mass for Burke’s annual holiday fundraiser supporting one of his political committees, just five days after federal investigators raided the alderman’s City Hall and 14th Ward offices.
Hundreds arrived at the ritzy hotel more than a half hour early to wait in a long receiving line to demonstrate their support for Burke, who already has more than $12 million in the three campaign funds he controls.
There's more:
Also seen were former city corporation counsel Mara Georges, Circuit Judge Daniel Kubasiak, former Ald. Terry Gabinski (32nd), Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Michael Cabonargi, former Illinois Attorney General Neil Hartigan and lobbyist Al Ronan.
Some of the best observations came from a would-be judge, who said the annual event drew the usual crowd.
“They’re all there: the wannabes, the has-beens, the they-ares and the powers that be. No one stayed away. Loyalty trumps integrity in this town every time,” he said.
Imagine that.
