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* Jason Meisner at the Trib…
Lawyers for indicted Chicago Ald. Edward Burke alleged in a court filing Thursday that federal investigators bungled the wiretap of Burke’s phones and improperly tried to set him up in a scheme involving the Old Main Post Office that forms the backbone of the case.
The allegations came in a motion to suppress the evidence gleaned from the wiretap on Burke’s cell phone and City Hall office, which allowed the FBI to monitor thousands of conversations the alderman made and received over the course of nearly a year.
The 71-page motion accuses prosecutors of directing then-Ald. Daniel Solis to have “scripted interactions” with Burke and lie about the Post Office deal in an effort to curry favor w/the government. At the time, Solis had himself been recorded “committing a number of different crimes,” the motion stated.
Burke’s lawyer wants those wiretaps suppressed.
…Adding… More…
After Burke recommended a certain wrecking company, investigators "directed Ald. Solis to begin engaging in conversations with Ald. Burke surrounding the Post Office project and record the conversations," according to the defense motion.
— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) August 20, 2020
*** UPDATE *** Seidel…
Burke’s team insisted that Solis told prosecutors “he had never been involved in any criminal wrongdoing with Ald. Burke — with whom he had served in the City Council for almost twenty-five years.” […]
Burke’s lawyers say he was targeted by the feds, and that Solis wasn’t the first government cooperator to work against him. They said that, from Feb. 2, 2015, until Aug. 13, 2015, an unnamed cooperator from another federal case in Chicago was “contacting Ald. Burke regularly in an attempt to develop evidence against him.”
“Here, again, the government came up empty-handed, and yet it zealously pressed on,” Burke’s lawyers wrote.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 20, 20 @ 4:37 pm
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If anything now, it allows a seed of doubt to the Feds case.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 20, 20 @ 4:44 pm
The whole case could hinge on this motion to suppress. If the recordings get tossed, he might walk away from this.
But you can’t unring the bell. He’s done politically. And that’s a welcome development.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Aug 20, 20 @ 4:47 pm
there’s still Burke’s toady to deal with, Pete Andrews.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Aug 20, 20 @ 4:54 pm
I agree with Willy. Definitely some doubt now. As they say….”Show me the money.”
Comment by Druid Eye Thursday, Aug 20, 20 @ 5:02 pm
If the tapes are tossed then Pete Andrews stock just went up.
Comment by Frumpy White Guy Thursday, Aug 20, 20 @ 5:09 pm
Parish the thought that the Feds would do anything unethical in their quest for righteousness. The Feds are truly committed to ethics and would never be dishonest or set someone up with a lie. You can trust them. Heck you don’t even need a lawyer when your dealing with them.
Comment by Feds don’t fib Thursday, Aug 20, 20 @ 5:31 pm
Nearly all federal criminals defendants are “set up.” That’s how they roll. Judge Leinenweber isn’t going to buy this.
Comment by Anon E Moose Thursday, Aug 20, 20 @ 5:42 pm
Cops lie routinely, the FBI and US attorneys included.
Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Aug 20, 20 @ 6:30 pm
Everyone in prison is innocent. Just ask them.
Comment by SSL Thursday, Aug 20, 20 @ 6:39 pm
I have little doubt that Burke was set up by the G-men.
The question is whether their set-up was illegal.
And about that I have some serious doubts.
– MrJM
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Aug 20, 20 @ 6:46 pm
Maybe these politicians wouldn’t have anything to worry about if they conducted their business ethically. Just a thought.
Comment by FormerParatrooper Thursday, Aug 20, 20 @ 7:34 pm
How many times are they going to try …
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0kPX4mxqyYc
Comment by Slugger O’Toole Thursday, Aug 20, 20 @ 8:35 pm
Said the guy who wondered if they landed the “big tuna.”
Comment by Leave a Light On George Thursday, Aug 20, 20 @ 9:22 pm
is there a link somewhere for the Burke lawyers motion?
Comment by jim Friday, Aug 21, 20 @ 12:05 pm