Feds charge powerful Chicago Ald. Edward Burke with corruption

The Chicago Tribune reports:

Longtime Ald. Edward Burke, one of Chicago’s most powerful figures and a vestige of the city’s old Democratic machine, has been charged with attempted extortion for allegedly using his position as alderman to corruptly solicit business for his private law firm.

The criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court comes five weeks after the FBI carried out a stunning raid on Burke’s City Hall office, working for hours behind windows covered with brown butcher paper before leaving down a back staircase with computers and files.

According to the one count, Burke in 2017 tried to extort a company that owns fast-food restaurants in the Chicago area and needed help with permits for a remodeling job.



The 37-page complaint revealed that authorities won a judge’s approval to wiretap Burke’s cellphone to record numerous calls. The evidence also includes emails and other documents, according to the complaint, which was filed Wednesday and unsealed Thursday.

The complaint also alleged Burke illegally solicited a campaign donation from an executive with the restaurant company for another politician, who is not named in the charges.

The man quietly running Chicago's luck finally runs out. For how Alderman Burke tried to fix a murder trial for the Chicago Mob , click on this. Also, this. Here's more from Crain's Chicago Business.