* There’s just no way on Earth to compete with Ed Burke dollar-for-dollar, but people can still raise enough to get their messages out. And unless they’re taking in lots of small contributions that don’t have to be reported, these are not great disclosure reports…
Congressman Chuy Garcia has endorsed Tanya Patino, but it doesn’t look like that has yet come with any money. Patino’s recent D-2 reported a $35 contribution, so she may be disclosing everything. She also received a $5,000 in-kind contribution from United Working Families to access the NGP VAN.
* And, in case you missed this, it looks like Burke won’t be indicted before the election…
Federal prosecutors on Tuesday won a three-month extension on indicting Chicago Ald. Edward Burke on bombshell charges he shook down two businessmen seeking to renovate a Burger King restaurant in his ward.
In a one-page order allowing the delay, U.S. District Chief Judge Ruben Castillo wrote that “the ends of justice served by the extension outweigh the best interests of the public and the defendant for a speedy trial.”
Prosecutors now face a May 3 deadline to seek an indictment from a grand jury, making it likely Burke won’t need to return to federal court until well after his Feb. 26 bid for re-election to an unprecedented 13th full term on the City Council.
In their motion for an extension on Monday, prosecutors said they needed more time because of the “complex nature” of the public corruption case against Burke “and the fact that the investigation is ongoing.”
The request was filed hours after Burke waived his right to a preliminary hearing to determine whether there was probable cause for the criminal complaint unveiled against him Jan. 3. The procedural move canceled a hearing that had been set for Friday and means there is no current court date for Burke’s case.
* Other stuff…
* Ald. Edward Burke dumped as tax lawyer by developers of Lincoln Yards, ‘The 78’: For 10 years, Sterling Bay, one of Chicago’s biggest developers, used Ald. Edward M. Burke’s law firm Klafter & Burke to seek property tax cuts. But not anymore. The firm behind the massive Lincoln Yards development proposed for the North Side has cut ties with Burke now that the alderman faces a corruption charge that threatens to send him to prison and end the reign of Chicago’s longest-tenured and most powerful City Council member.
* Alderman Ed Burke corruption case continues to cloud Chicago mayors race
* Who Is Alderman Ed Burke?
* Can Ed Burke scandal become a #MeToo-like moment in fight against corruption?
- Ron Burgundy - Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 9:59 am:
The courthouse activity just confirms that the initial one count complaint was just to put a stop to the alleged criminal activity and a placeholder. There is much more to come.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 9:59 am:
10 million for a city council member?
We are playing some real small-ball downstate. Yowza.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 9:59 am:
Could it be that money is sidelined to see who can get into the runoff, then go “all-in” with one candidate when it can matter?
Maybe?
- steve - Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 10:09 am:
The candidates running against Burke shouldn’t feel bad. Even Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has much less money in his campaign fund than Alderman Ed Burke. Which is kind of odd.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 10:16 am:
–The courthouse activity just confirms that the initial one count complaint was just to put a stop to the alleged criminal activity and a placeholder. There is much more to come.–
Looks that way. The feds got a warrant to tap his phone before the BK shakedown even started.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 10:36 am:
===“the ends of justice served by the extension outweigh the best interests of the public and the defendant for a speedy trial.”===
That’s extraordinary, especially in the middle of an election.
- DuPage Bard - Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 10:37 am:
Need money and a real campaign team to compete.
Doesn’t look like they have either as of now.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 10:41 am:
Maybe they’re bringing a massive volunteer operation? Maybe?
- DuPage Saint - Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 10:49 am:
So who did Burke’s ex clients go to? Madigan or Daley?
- Fax Machine - Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 10:50 am:
I think Oswego Willy is right - the top priority for Team Chuy is getting Mike Rodriguez elected Alderman in 22 without a runoff.
If they can do that, then they will focus on 14 assuming there is a runoff.
- Gooner - Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 10:51 am:
Promise is tiresome and time is passing.
The election is about six weeks away.
If Chuy is going to make a difference, he needs to do it now. The way it stands now, I suspect Burke takes 50% plus one.
The same applies for the mayoral candidates. They are all hitting the same notes (except Vallas and McCarthy who are hitting identical notes that are different from the rest of the field). Someone needs to do something to stand out from the crowd. Sending out the same statement as everyone else is not going to do it.
- OneMan - Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 10:59 am:
Why would you at this point give noticeable money to one of the challengers? There is no win in that. If by some fluke Burke emerges from this, you will have made a powerful enemy.
- theCardinal - Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 11:19 am:
Hooray for Checks and Balances.
- A guy - Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 11:23 am:
Says something that few souls if any even want to be recorded as donating $35, let along real money. Is there anyone who thinks it’s impossible for this guy to rub down in a lard pit and somehow squeeze through this crisis?
- statehoss - Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 1:05 pm:
>could it be that money is sidelined …
Keep in mind that roughly $2.5 million is money Burke will keep for personal use when he closes the committee. You can bet he’s expecting to use that exemption to the campaign finance laws.