* Sun-Times…
Ald. Edward M. Burke and his top political aide have been named as defendants in a pending federal bribery case involving a Lake Forest developer, court records show.
Burke and his aide, Peter J. Andrews, were named as new defendants in the federal bribery case against developer Charles Cui.
Cui is accused of allegedly using Burke’s law firm for property tax appeal work as Cui sought a sign permit that was critical to a redevelopment project on the Northwest Side. Burke was not originally charged in the case, which was brought earlier this year, but was implicated throughout the charges against Cui.
Details of the new charges against Burke and Andrews were not immediately available.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Tribune…
A 14-count indictment accused the alderman with half a century in office of corruption in connection with the redevelopment of the old main post office in downtown Chicago as well as two smaller projects in which prosecutors had previously alleged wrongdoing.
The charges also allege that Burke threatened to oppose an increase in the admission fee for a Chicago museum after the museum failed to respond to the alderman’s inquiry about an internship there for a child of a friend.
The indictment charges Burke with one count of racketeering, two counts of federal program bribery, two counts of attempted extortion, one count of conspiracy to commit extortion and eight counts of using interstate commerce to facilitate an unlawful activity.
Also charged for the first time was Peter J. Andrews, an employee in Burke’s 14th Ward office who is accused of assisting the alderman in attempting to shake down two businessmen seeking to renovate a Burger King restaurant in the ward.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Read the indictment by clicking here.
- DuPage Saint - Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 4:11 pm:
Well he will go down as the alderman that stood up to Lghtfoor on gender equality in writing rules
- Ravenswood Right Winger - Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 4:15 pm:
DuPage Saint FTW.
To quote Brad Pitt’s character to Carl Reiner’s character in Ocean’s 11, “guys like us don’t change, Saul. We either stay sharp or get sloppy.”
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 4:43 pm:
Shakedowns over paving a Burger King parking lot and a strip mall sign.
This guy, for decades, was supposedly the brightest-banana grifter in the City Council? Twelve million in campaign funds, lives in a fortress like a Don, lording it over the working class 14th Ward?
Talk about low rent. He probably swipes the Splenda packets off the tables at Denny’s.
That he was still hustling cheap scores at his age goes to my theory that the federales didn’t take him down years ago because he was, shall we say, helpful in directing them to barrels where more fish might be found. But now, it appears, he has no one else to give up.
All this hanging over his head and Burke had the chutzpah yesterday to get cute with Lightfoot at her first City Council, like he’s a naughty boy, trying to wind up the new teacher. What a delusional putz.
- E town - Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 5:00 pm:
Sloppy and scummy. A perfect example of why we need to put limits on amount of time elected officials can serve. He clearly forgot he is a public servant. The system is not there to serve him and his cronies
- Keyrock - Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 5:13 pm:
And the other shoe has dropped. A broad racketeering indictment.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/ct-met-ald-ed-burke-indicted-20190530-story.html
- Responsa - Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 5:28 pm:
== “guys like us don’t change, Saul. We either stay sharp or get sloppy.”==
Thanks. I love this. It’s so Chicago.
- Steve - Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 5:29 pm:
Stay tuned. If Alderman Burke doesn’t cooperate: there probably will be more indictments.
- Huh? - Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 5:32 pm:
What I have a hard time believing is the 9,000 recorded telephone calls.
- Sue - Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 5:42 pm:
If they hurry up The two Eddies can be roomies at Oxford and they then can relive the council wars
- Rich Miller - Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 5:48 pm:
===If Alderman Burke doesn’t cooperate===
They go after people at the top. He’s at the top.
- Steve - Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 5:57 pm:
It’s my error: I’ll rephrase it . If Alderman Burke doesn’t plead guilty to some felonies , he may get indicted on more counts.
- Leslie K - Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 6:04 pm:
No doubt Burke has done some low-rent stuff, but a note from a Jan 4 Trib article about the Burger King: “…the Dhanani Group based in Sugar Land, Texas. The privately owned company is one of the country’s largest franchisees for Popeyes and Burger King restaurants, according to Forbes magazine.” So, he may have been hustling for more than just that BK. And it may be part of why that company had the gumption to stand up to him.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-met-alderman-ed-burke-charges-20190103-story.html
- James - Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 6:08 pm:
He’s t’ru and he knows it. Time to circle the wagons. Past time.
- Concerned Dem - Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 6:16 pm:
Alderman Burke should know you don’t take on the King unless you know you can win.
- JS Mill - Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 6:22 pm:
Always thinking he was above the law. I just don’t understand why it took so long.
- Rudy’s teeth - Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 6:27 pm:
Eddie Burke was once a member of “the Young Turks.” Now he’ll be known as “the Old Fool.” Did Eddie learn nothing at Quigley Prep about the Seven Deadly Sins…particularly avarice?
- Leave a light on George - Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 6:41 pm:
You know there is a long road to travel here, but let me be the first to say I don’t want to hear any whining about a harsh sentence to an old man, murders, drug dealers get off with less time etc…
Gov. Ryan went to prison. Didn’t phase Gov. Rod. Rod’s still in prison and it was mainly his own words recorded by the FBI that sent him there. That wasn’t enough to keep Burke from talking on the telephone about his misdeeds.
Keep doubling their sentences until they learn!
- Huh? - Thursday, May 30, 19 @ 7:02 pm:
Burke was caught on wiretaps and email. My, my, my, how the corrupt politicians have forgotten the mafia rules of everything face to face, nothing on the phone or in writing.