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Et tu, Turow?

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* From Turow’s letter…

I have known Ed over the years as one of the most keenly intelligent people I’ve ever encountered, someone with an unrivaled knowledge of the history of Chicago. He is a person with a loving and complex view of human nature, and, in my long experience with him, a central preoccupation with the practical steps that will make life here better for all of us.

None of this is to gainsay the evidence heard in your courtroom, or to diminish the gravity of the crime Ed has been convicted of.

But one thing has been striking to me since the complaint was first unveiled in this matter in 2019. How consistent is it with the image the prosecutors want to draw of a City Hall insider “steeped in corruption” to think that such a man would get on the telephone with people he barely knew and declare, “[We’re going to talk about the real estate tax representation and you [a]re going to have somebody get in touch with me so we can expedite your permits”?

Of course, that was exactly what he said. But what allegedly experienced schemer of Ed’s intelligence, let alone a lifetime familiarity with law enforcement and Chicago history, would deliver such a clearly improper message so baldly? The same observation applies to statements about “tuna” and “cash registers,” uttered so cheerfully—and guilelessly.

In short, I have considered the crimes themselves as clear evidence of a state of decline that the defendant is too proud to recognize or acknowledge and which the prosecutors, naturally, would not focus on. Personally, I have no doubt that a younger Ed Burke would have stayed carefully within the white lines-and out of your courtroom. Accordingly, I believe that is an important consideration as you ponder the heavy task of setting an appropriate punishment for an 80 year old.

Maybe now we have some insights into why the G never went after Burke until relatively recently. He was their impressively smart buddy. A mentor, even.

He apparently worked the refs quite well for decades.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 1:25 pm

Comments

So the argument here is that cognitive decline caused him to think corruption was okay and if he weren’t cognitively impaired he would have been better at being corrupt?

Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 1:39 pm
When did Scott Turow become a licensed clinical psychologist?

Comment by Friday Addams Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 1:42 pm
I’m surprised Scott didn’t invent a perchance for Twinkies, along with Ed’s past adherence to ethical standards.

Comment by Socially DIstant watcher Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 1:44 pm
It’s the old “Caught Slippin’” defense.

Comment by Dotnonymous x Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 1:46 pm
I think the argument fails as the cognitive decline only applies to successfully hiding the crimes. Participating in them is nothing new I expect.

Comment by Lincoln Lad Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 1:46 pm
These letters shine a very bright and positive light on the life of Ed Burke. He is truly a giant among men. We should be great full that even a virtuous almost godlike politician can be held fully accountable for his greed and corruption. A 10 year sentence will serve the public interest and allow us to more time to ruminate on his greatness.

Comment by Frumpy White Guy Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 1:50 pm
So Scott Turow paints Eddie Burke as feeble and irresponsible for his actions. What. At an advanced age, Eddie Vrdolyak served time in the joint not once but twice. It is time for Eddie Burke to be held accountable. If Eddie Vrdolyak served time, so can Eddie Burke.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 1:53 pm
=== But what allegedly experienced schemer of Ed’s intelligence, let alone a lifetime familiarity with law enforcement and Chicago history, would deliver such a clearly improper message so baldly? ===

Simplest explanation is that Burke’s “lifetime familiarity with law enforcement” was also a lifetime of talking like this, and the investigation was the first time anyone bothered to listen in. After 50 years of operating like that and getting away with it, I’d be “cheerful” too.

Comment by vern Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 1:54 pm
The philosopher Martin Buber, in his seminal work “I and Thou”, offers up another explanation for Burke’s confession.

Mankind is inherently social, and anyone living in social isolation, whether physical, emotional, or otherwise, longs to reconnect, to return.

Buber argues this applies to the criminal too, who lives outside legal society, and needs either a criminal sub-culture that accepts him or to rejoin society as a whole. Before gangs amd organized crime was a thing, Buber believed that criminals subliminally longed to get caught and punished, to reconnect with society, so they would leave evidence, share their crimes with others, etc. Only the sociopath does not want to get caught.

Burke was a well-known player in criminal sub-culture, so well-known for so long that many half-joked he must be working for the Feds, otherwise he would be in prison.

I believe that with that sub-culture in steep decline, the old guard of the City Council in retirement, the Daleyites gone, Ed Burke was just getting lonely, and he wanted to get caught.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 1:55 pm
I once wrote an email to Scott Turow about why the GOP wasn’t supporting Peter Fitzgerald’s reelection bid for senator (I’m not sure what Turow’s connection was that made me write him) and was stunned by the response - they loathed him, I’m guessing for going after George Ryan (and that was after some library matter or another) and the Patrick Fitzgerald appointment. Regardless, I thought of him as just another anti-reformer after that.

Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 2:03 pm
(Yes, I know he didn’t run for reelection, but the internal GOP lack of support was reported before he anounced the decision).

Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 2:04 pm
“It’s a big club, and you ain’t in it.” - George Carlin

Comment by Moe Berg Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 2:07 pm
Prisons are full of people with mental issues that played a big role in putting them there.

Comment by what else you got Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 2:08 pm
I believe Turow once asked a judge for mercy for the kid who killed his parents because the kid was now an orphan

Comment by DuPage Saint Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 2:08 pm
Burke, Madigan, McClain, Mapes…everyone spoke of these folks in hushed tones like they were a step above all of the petty corruption in the state and city.

Once the G got these folks on tape, they were revealed as two-bit criminals. A grand chessmaster is talking about going after the big “tuna” like a petty mobster.

Comment by NIU Grad Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 2:09 pm
It’s like clockwork. These seemingly healthy older pols get convicted and suddenly they are too infirm to serve a sentence. Burke is just the most recent one.

It would be a great example to other elected officials if Burke goes to jail.

Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 2:12 pm
Another thought: what does it say about all these Burke supporters after the evidence showed how antisemitic Burke is?

Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 2:18 pm
===so well-known for so long that many half-joked he must be working for the Feds===

I don’t think that some half-joked about it. Some were dead serious, which could also explain some things, including why a former US Attorney wrote a letter on his behalf.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 2:23 pm
Scott’s ethical compass seems unsteady these days.

We’re not living in Kindle County anymore.

Comment by Keyrock Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 2:24 pm
There are obvious connections between the machine, big law, and big corporations in Chicago. Why do you think Burke was so upset with the Art Institute? The letter does not surprise or shock me.

I and Thou though, haven’t thought about that book for a while.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 2:32 pm
ah I remember back in the day when everyone was reading Presumed Innocent & a high profile pol said read Bonfire of the Vanities, it is so much better.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 2:36 pm
Guessing Scott has some undisclosed head injury. Ed always operated this way. A la Fast Eddie V. The mole theory often cited. The Tobacco Settlement scam could have been a tipping point.

Comment by Annonin' Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 2:51 pm
Is it too late for Eddie Burke to borrow Vincent Gigante’s bathrobe and slippers?

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Friday, Jun 14, 24 @ 4:11 pm