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Two Burke-related scoops by the Sun-Times

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Illinois

* One…

Chicago’s most powerful alderman, Edward M. Burke, had his cell phone seized by federal agents who raided his government and political offices late last month, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

It’s unclear why the FBI seized the phone or where it was when they took it.

I had heard they tracked him down the day of the raid and took his phone.

* Two…

Shortly before FBI agents raided the offices of Ald. Edward M. Burke, they knocked on the door of the alderman’s top political aide, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

The FBI showed up at Peter Andrews Jr.’s home in Mount Greenwood around 7 a.m. on Nov. 29. […]

Andrews is the chairman of two of Burke’s three campaign funds, which total a combined $12 million — money the alderman has raised from companies that have gotten business from City Hall, some that also have hired his law firm, Klafter & Burke, to challenge their real estate assessments, seeking to lower their property tax bills.

Burke has paid Andrews more than $100,000 since 2001 to serve as a political consultant, according to records the alderman has filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Fourteen years ago, Andrews and his wife, Ginger, got caught up in the scandal over the city’s Hired Truck Program under which the administration of Mayor Richard M. Daley spent $40 million a year to hire dump trucks that often ended up doing no work on city construction projects.

Oh, that’s big. Andrews is to Burke ~ what Marty Quinn is to Speaker Madigan.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 3:55 pm

Comments

The federales are really on him this time, it seems.

If Burke is truly put in harm’s way, you wonder who or what he might be able to give up.

I’ve always suspected he’s done it before. What he doesn’t know, he can provide a map.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 4:04 pm
@wordslinger- Do you think?

Comment by Donny Boy Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 4:07 pm
Burke had a cell phone??? Didn’t he learn anything from Madigan?

Comment by Huh? Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 4:39 pm
What ever happens by next year this time Ann Burke should be Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court.

Comment by Steve Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 4:41 pm
Huh? shows once again why the owner of this blog needs to install a “like” button in comments.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 4:41 pm
My first impression?

Thank god Chicago is still a two-newspaper town.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 4:45 pm
Mr Miller: NOBODY and I mean NOBODY is like General Quinn!!!!

Comment by Wow Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 4:54 pm
Wow, lol. Point taken, but I used the ~ symbol. It’s approximate enough.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 4:55 pm
This is just the U S Attorney using their torture drip by drip. Probably see another leak next week.

Comment by Wow Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 4:57 pm
They took Dorothy Brown’a phone too, so that has been a slow burn

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 5:05 pm
$100,000 for political work over 17 years? Ummm, that’s not exactly real money. We sure that wasn’t a typo?

Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 5:22 pm
–@wordslinger- Do you think?–

The feds have been on Burke before. Haunted Hall comes to mind. Somehow, some way, people all around him fell like bowling pins, yet he’s still standing. Curious, that.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 5:30 pm
This is old news. And it is just now being reported? Smh. Was wondering where this was on the blog last week.

Comment by RollCall Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 5:33 pm
–They took Dorothy Brown’a phone too, so that has been a slow burn–

Or she uses burner phones.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 5:47 pm
===Mr Miller: NOBODY and I mean NOBODY is like General Quinn!!!!===
While I respect how Quinn is commander in chief of his troops Petey has never had the same resources. More than most but not as many. And Burke’s ward has had a lot less voters who like to hear Danny Boy than Quinn’s. And fewer that know how to Polka.

Comment by Been There Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 5:53 pm
“Edward M. Burke, had his cell phone seized by federal agents who raided his government and political offices”

I’d heard Ed had a Jitterbug flip-phone that only makes calls to Anne and eight members of his security detail.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 6:20 pm
Pete Andrews, Ward Secretary, two faced little jerk. seriously people, this is not a good guy.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 11:28 pm
Amalia,

Not sure where you are getting your info but Pete is not the Ward Secretary, I think he may have been some 50 years ago when he started out in politics with Chairman Burke. More importantly I do not know where you get off calling him a 2 faced jerk? Please provide instances stories.

Comment by Donny Boy Monday, Dec 10, 18 @ 11:44 pm
once upon a time, Pete Andrews. you may have your own experiences. others do as well.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 9:45 pm