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* Whoa…
What are federal agents doing this morning at Ald. Ed Burke’s Finance Committee?
— Carol Marin (@CarolMarin) November 29, 2018
I’m outside Ald. Burke’s committee on Finance. Glass doors papered over.
Feds appear to be inside.
More on NBC5 @11.— Carol Marin (@CarolMarin) November 29, 2018
Source says feds showed up this am, asked everyone to leave and put brown paper on the doors. pic.twitter.com/4qJBwzoKF4
— Fran Spielman (@fspielman) November 29, 2018
Reporters gathering outside Ald. Ed Burke’s office. Windows are covered. No comment. pic.twitter.com/ZTfu11w8lx
— A.D. Quig (@ad_quig) November 29, 2018
…Adding… Hmm…
Peeking through a crack in the brown paper covering the windows, "There's a guy in there." He's ignoring knocks from reporters. pic.twitter.com/1Mv6iMDAiz
— Ashlee Rezin (@Ashlee_Rezin) November 29, 2018
*** UPDATE 1 *** Tribune…
Burke’s ward office on the Southwest Side also had the same brown paper taped over its front door with three signs that read, “Office closed.” An officer sitting in a squad car parked behind Burke’s ward office said a search warrant was being executed inside but offered no further details. […]
A law enforcement source told the Chicago Tribune that FBI agents raided Burke’s City Hall office and that the search was ongoing. No arrests were made or are imminent, said the source, who had no details on the nature of the investigation.
…Adding… Prudent…
Follow-up: Apparently Justice Burke's swearing-in ceremony in the court chambers on the 18th floor of the Bilandic Building were canceled. She was sworn in by Chief Justice Karmeier in her chambers "some time this morning," according to security guards who talked to me.
— David Thomas (@DaveThomas5150) November 29, 2018
*** UPDATE 2 *** Greg Hinz…
There was no immediate word on what instigated the raids, but Burke’s influence as chairman of the Finance Committee over the city’s workers’ compensation fund could be a focus. Burke has kept outside oversight of its payouts to a minimum—even outside the purview of the city’s inspector general.
Another area of law-enforcement interest could be reflected by a recent surge in payments to the Internal Revenue Service by one of Burke’s campaign finance committees.
According to filings, Friends of Ed Burke paid nearly $150,000 to the IRS during the three months ended in June. That compared with much more modest sums in earlier periods, including two checks issued for $2,154.80 each and a third for $84 in 2017’s second quarter.
The committee also stepped up its payments to the Illinois Department of Revenue, sending more than $10,000 during the three months ended in June.
And…
Ald. Burke responds to FBI raid: “I’ve been in office for 49 years. I’ve been under investigation in the past. Nothing has ever come of it, and I’ve always cooperated. And I’ll cooperate whatever this investigation is.” @fox32news pic.twitter.com/KQiiSfnGQW
— Dane Placko FOX 32 (@dsplacko) November 29, 2018
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:25 am
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It looks like the Gonzalez attorneys went to the wrong office.
Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:26 am
Do not ask for whom the bell tolls Ald.Burke.
The bell tolls for thee.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:26 am
The feds aren’t there for remodeling…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:28 am
Happy Holidays from The G.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:30 am
=The feds aren’t there for remodeling…=
Maybe just a little feng shui work?
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:30 am
I’m reminded of a quote that seems quite pertinent…
“Don’t wait for it to happen. Don’t even want it to happen. Just watch what does happen.”
We’ll know soon enough.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:30 am
I’m guessing Cohen, Trump property taxes, Taxi medallions?
Comment by Dunno Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:31 am
This is like an orange sticker on a restaurant door.
They never open back up. And if they do — it’s under new management.
Comment by Bobby T Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:33 am
Cohen, Deutsche Bank, and Ed Burke in one day? Hmmm.
Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:36 am
Heard they’re just doing a pop-up Christmas display, like Macy’s. Those FBI guys get sentimental around the holidays just like everyone else.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:38 am
The schadenfreude is strong with this one…
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:38 am
He’s very smart. and he’s very scary. This is way interesting. (multiple exclamation points.)
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:40 am
This isn’t Burke’s first rodeo with the federales.
Back in 1997, during Operation Haunted Hall, an employee of Burke’s law firm, Joseph Martinez, pleaded guilty to being a ghost payroller on three council committees, including finance. He said Burke got him the jobs and knew he wasn’t doing any work for the money.
As part of his plea, Martinez agreed to cooperate with the feds, with the clear implication that Burke was in the barrel.
Somehow, Burke was never touched. But over the next years, the feds started taking down many other City Hall types in all sorts of schemes, thanks to the obvious guidance of someone who knew where the bodies were buried.
Wonder who that was?
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-01-24-9702150166-story.html
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:41 am
Wow. Ya just gotta wonder what took them so long.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:42 am
OK, I’m ignorant of the goings on in Chicago, but is this necessarily something about Burke? Or could it be someone else’s shenanigans that affect the city’s Finance Committee? I get that we don’t know anything yet, but would it have to be about Burke himself, which is the obvious assumption most seem to be making?
Comment by Perrid Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:42 am
Going to wait for the Tribune to post an article regarding this on Facebook and wait for the comments to pile in. Somebody there will know the answers.
Comment by Almost the weekend Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:43 am
At least his streets were plowed early and often by his house this week.
Comment by Jose Abreu's next homer Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:50 am
Wonder if anyone has swung by his law offices yet, would learn a lot from what may or may not be going on currently there.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:55 am
“OK, I’m ignorant of the goings on in Chicago, but is this necessarily something about Burke? Or could it be someone else’s shenanigans that affect the city’s Finance Committee? I get that we don’t know anything yet, but would it have to be about Burke himself, which is the obvious assumption most seem to be making?”
That could be, but Burke is the Fiance Committee and the Finance Committee is Burke. There is no other city council committee like the fiefdom that Burke has created in the Finance Committee.
Comment by Montrose Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:55 am
–Or could it be someone else’s shenanigans that affect the city’s Finance Committee?–
For all intents and purposes he is the Finance Committee and has been for a long time.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:56 am
I am going to withhold judgement until I see a comment from Burke’s PR flack, Mike Sneed.
Comment by Colin O'Scopy Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:56 am
It’s a raid!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSdJWSU2T_c
/s
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 10:56 am
Latest from Sneed
Saw the Burkes eating yum yum soup and Perry’s Deli why some holiday remodeling is being done at the alderman’s offices.
No hijinx going on, natch
Get it, forget it.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:06 am
New Tribune story just up says that his ward office is being raided too: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-chicago-alderman-ed-burke-offices-raided-fbi-20181129-story.html
Comment by Dan K. Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:07 am
Raid Made
Sneed has learned the powerful chairman of Chicago’s Finance Committee Ald. Ed Burke had his committee offices taken over by the Feds.
Upshot: They will reorganize things
Downshot: They may take files with them to their downtown offices.
Backshot: They told everyone to leave, front door, back door, any door.
Buckshot: Who and what is the target of this raid is still a mystery.
Stay tuned.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:08 am
Commenters at Political Wire think it has something to do with Burke’s dealings with Trump.
Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:18 am
LOL @OW
All-star work there
Comment by 5th Floor Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:19 am
Danny Solis is looking like a genius right now
Comment by Fax Machine Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:22 am
This is kind of a very big story….
Comment by Steve Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:22 am
so many comments here are nearly sending the coffee out of my nose. great stuff.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:23 am
- 5th Floor -
Sneedless to say, I thank you.
Natch.
To the Post,
The Ward Office got the paper on the windows routine too…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:23 am
==Commenters at Political Wire think it has something to do with Burke’s dealings with Trump.==
As is their wont, coming at this from a non-local perspective. And to be fair, they may be right. But…it’s Ed Burke. It could be almost anything.
Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:26 am
I was just talking to someone about how unusual it was that Trump Tower was built at all, given that the real estate slump and recession were resulting in canceled projects everywhere at the time.
Comment by Quzzical Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:26 am
Pretty embarrassing if the husband of an Illinois Supreme Court Justice is being investigated by the feds.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:28 am
Burke has been at this a long time. Gotta think the office, files, and computers were sanitized long ago. Along w sanitary phone protocols. But its the feds. Good luck.
Comment by Langhorne Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:35 am
Montrose ==Burke is the Fiance Committee==
Matchmaker, Matchmaker, make me a match…
Comment by ChrisB Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:40 am
Someone should check if his law firm office got raided. If so, then it might be about gathering Trump info.
Comment by Fax Machine Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:44 am
Is this all Dibs related?
Comment by Jose Abreu's next homer Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:45 am
They are executing search warrants at both of Alderman Burke’s offices. Word has it they are searching for his moral compass, which went missing about 50 years ago.
That said, I’m sure it’s all just a big misunderstanding.
Comment by Alderman Buss Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:46 am
Outstanding commentary about Sneed…
Comment by Donny Boy Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:48 am
OW 11:08
Rimshot - “We don’t want nobody nobody sent!”
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:50 am
If this were Trump related wouldn’t they raid his private law firm?
Comment by LL 2 Phat Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:58 am
http://chicagoist.com/2011/08/04/ed_burkes_600000_bodyguards.php
Burke still has bodyguards paid for with tax dollars, correct? Sneedless to say, they may no longer be needed. Natch.
Rimshot: IIRC, Rahm wanted to get rid of the bodyguards when he first became mayor.
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:02 pm
- Six Degrees of Separation -, - Donny Boy -
I’d love to be her ghost writer some days…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:02 pm
Up until now the Feds and Burke has been a no invite em item.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:04 pm
“But… it’s Ed Burke. It could be almost anything.”
And that’s just the stuff we know about.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:14 pm
Will the bodyguards remain at his side regardless of where this goes?
Comment by Plutocrat03 Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:14 pm
Republicans in Chicago never seem to miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:25 pm
So how do we fill a vacancy of a state supreme court justice?
Just asking
Comment by The Real Captain Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:26 pm
The alderman channeling Newman
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rMi7zrrvqEw
Comment by LL 2 Phat Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:47 pm
Geez, timing this raid to preempt Justice Burke’s swearing-in is making this feel extra personal. They’re sending a very pointed message here. The timing wasn’t an accident, the FBI doesn’t believe in coincidence. Ouch.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:51 pm
The Supreme Court members select a replacement
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:51 pm
Ive dealt with alderman burke before, and im surprised that its taken this long for this to happen. Too bad its trump stuff that may cause him legal problems. I would have much more faith in the justice system if his problems were caused by the FBI observing how he conducts himself on a regular basis. He is as corrupt as they come.
Comment by anon Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 12:54 pm
Hey, Justice Burke is an exceptionally nice person, and has done valuable work on the Catholic priest scandal.
Of course, she has limited legal ability and has no business being a Supreme Court Justice, other than the obvious.
Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:08 pm
Must make for interesting pillow talk.
Comment by striketoo Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:15 pm
Thank you Wolf of Wall street, because now when I read about something like this all I can hear in my head is ,”Here’s to you Mrs. Robinson”… on repeat.
Comment by Iggy Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:17 pm
==Will the bodyguards remain at his side regardless of where this goes?==
I guess Paulie called in sick today.
Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:19 pm
Possibly the whitey bulger of Illinois politix, finally getting caught?
Comment by uhoh Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:40 pm
–Cohen, Deutsche Bank, and Ed Burke in one day?–
Indeed.
Deutsche Bank, well-known international money launderer, financed Trump Tower in Chicago. Burke was Trump Orgs local lawyer for the building.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:42 pm
“Geez, timing this raid to preempt Justice Burke’s swearing-in is making this feel extra personal.”
Did the raid preempt it — or was Justice Burke’s swearing-in, in her chambers, a time certain when the Feds believed that Alderman Burke wouldn’t be at either of his offices? (Serious question. I don’t know.)
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:51 pm
Might be T and son-in-law, too…
From the Sun Times “breakup” article in June this year https://tinyurl.com/ycfl7qax
“Trump Tower was still under construction when Burke began representing Trump in 2006.
Between 2009 and 2015, Burke saved Trump more than $14.1 million in taxes by persuading the assessor or the Board of Review or both to lower the value of condos, hotel rooms and retail space owned by Trump, the Sun-Times previously has reported.
Arguing that Trump’s tax bills were still too high in many of those years, Burke filed additional appeals with the courts and the state tax appeal board.
City Hall objected to the Trump case that Burke filed in 2010, which led him to step aside and turn over the case to another law firm, Deutsch, Levy & Engel. That case remains pending.
City Hall didn’t challenge any the cases Burke filed on behalf of Trump in 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Those cases are ongoing.
Burke’s firm also handles appeals on property taxes on the AT&T building, 225 W. Randolph, now owned by Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner. The telecommunications giant sold the property to Kushner and leases it back from him under an agreement that calls for AT&T to pay the real estate taxes. AT&T uses Burke’s firm to seek property tax cuts on the building.”
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:51 pm
Finance Committee handles/adjusts all settlements of claims against the City of Chicago including PI and Worker’s Comp.
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:51 pm
So did they catch hom dirty, or once again have to invent something?
Comment by Retired 126 Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 1:57 pm
One of the top purviews of the FBI is public corruption. I think it’s wishful thinking to assume this has anything to do with Trump.
“The FBI has divided its investigations into a number of programs, such as domestic and international terrorism, foreign counterintelligence, cyber crime, public corruption, civil rights, organized crime/drugs, white-collar crime, violent crimes and major offenders, and applicant matters.”
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 2:00 pm
===(Serious question. I don’t know.)===
I don’t know either, and didn’t realize she was being sworn-in today until I saw that Tweet. But I’m sure the feds ruined what would have been a swell party.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 2:08 pm
I don’t think the feds cared whether Burke was present or not. They had a search warrant.
Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 2:15 pm
Anonymous@2:00- This may very well fall under the heading of white collar crime if money laundering was involved in some of the real estate schemes.
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 2:30 pm
well, Mueller has bigger fish to fry than Ed Burke. (sorry Ed, but you just aren’t that important.) Could be that they need something in their related to the big investigation. of course what may have happened is that in the course of the review of Cohen/Trump/Junior/etc, they found something else, unrelated. and handed that to the Northern District. anyone spy any designations on the Feds going in doors? are they local? national?
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 2:40 pm
Waiting to see if Sneed accuses the Feds of smokin’ poseys.
Comment by Eric Zorn Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 2:42 pm
If the feds send you home are you charged for a vacation day???
Comment by I have to ask Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 2:43 pm
“Burke, a Democrat and the current Finance Committee chairman for the City Council in Chicago, was defeated in a recent election following political attacks regarding his property tax appeal work for Trump and the president’s properties in the city.” This text is up right now. Washington Examiner playing Sybil the Soothsayer?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 2:52 pm
sorry, the Wash. Examiner bit was from me.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 2:52 pm
“Sybilline Oracle”
Just being clueless about a tale of two Burkes….
Comment by Fav human Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 2:59 pm
Washington Press: https://washingtonpress.com/2018/11/29/the-fbi-and-irs-just-raided-the-office-of-trumps-longtime-tax-attorney/
The Hill: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/418928-federal-agents-raid-office-of-tax-firm-that-previously-worked-for
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 3:12 pm
If this goes badly for him who gets custody of Sneed?
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 3:17 pm
===According to filings, Friends of Ed Burke paid nearly $150,000 to the IRS during the three months ended in June.===
I suppose it could be run of the mill corruption. I mean, this is Chicago afterall. But this doesn’t feel like a raid over failure to pay IRS withholding taxes for employees.
Sending FBI agents with butcher paper for the windows for what sounds like a civil tax fraud case? Color me skeptical.
I suppose we’ll find out eventually.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 3:19 pm
“If this goes badly for him who gets custody of Sneed?”
With Ed Vrdolyak not really available, it will have to be Justice Burke.
Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 3:22 pm
Wow. And this started out to have the makings of a regular ol’ blah day in Chicago politics. You just never know do you?
Comment by Responsa Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 3:27 pm
“If this goes badly for him who gets custody of Sneed?”
Baby T.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 3:40 pm
–Cohen, Deutsche Bank, and Ed Burke in one day?–
Sheer coincidence, I’m sure. Only a conspiracy theorist would think otherwise.
Comment by IllinoisBoi Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 3:50 pm
“I’ve been in office for 49 years. I’ve been under investigation in the past.”
There goes your re-election slogan.
As noted above this seems kind of high profile and of interesting timing in relation to other events happening today, but a relationship between the events can’t necessarily be assumed.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 3:51 pm
===Ald. Burke responds to FBI raid: “I’ve been in office for 49 years. I’ve been under investigation in the past. Nothing has ever come of it, and I’ve always cooperated. And I’ll cooperate whatever this investigation is.”===
The untarnished version…
“I run my ward and committee how I run my ward and committee. You want to investigate me, roll the dice and take your chances. I eat breakfast 300 yards from ‘4000’ Chicago reporters who are trained to question me, so don’t think for one second that you can come down here, flash a badge, and make me nervous.”
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 4:08 pm
Also, someone can probably tell Dorothy Brown it’s all clear for today. She’s probably under her desk.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 4:12 pm
Given the offices of Burke that were targeted, it looks more like a fishing expedition on Burke and some kind of city related activity than something on the national level.
Guess we’ll know soon enough.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 4:19 pm
Well, the Feds must have had probable cause for something if the judge issued the warrant.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 4:47 pm
–As noted above this seems kind of high profile and of interesting timing in relation to other events happening today, but a relationship between the events can’t necessarily be assumed.–
Certainly can’t be assumed or dismissed with the information available.
Heckuva lot of wheels in motion on the federales front today.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 5:07 pm
–Washington Examiner playing Sybil the Soothsayer?–
No just the usual ignorance and sloppiness that they’re known for.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 5:09 pm
She was the only vote against Kanerva
Comment by Not a Billionaire Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 5:55 pm
One of the greatest outpourings of snarky comment here in a long time. Well done, all.
I got nothin’, but predict a run on brown butcher paper for prank purposes.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 6:46 pm
Vrdolyak believed his own hype as Teflon and eventually got sloppy with age and arrogance. The same may have happened here.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 7:18 pm
Alderman Burke should have retired years ago,then he could have moved to the Gold Coast and avoided this raid possibly.
Comment by Rod Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 8:33 pm
David Orr had a good one something like well finally…anyway it does look Trump related. Deutsche bank Cohen and Burke and taxes. Looking at the fates of people involved with Russia….I would throw myself on the mercy of Mueller because one bodyguard went stop the GRU.
Comment by Not a Billionaire Thursday, Nov 29, 18 @ 11:08 pm