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LONGTIME
CHICAGO ALD. ED BURKE CHARGED WITH EXTORTION
Illinois Policy Institute/
Brad Weisenstein
Federal prosecutors claim Burke used his
position as alderman to solicit business for his law firm, which
specializes in Cook County property tax appeals. Felony attempted
extortion could come with up to 20 years in prison.
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 Chicago Ald. Ed Burke was charged by federal prosecutors with a
count of attempted extortion on Jan. 3.
The charge states Burke tried to use his elected position to get legal work out
of a fast food restaurant that sought his support for a remodeling project in
2017. Burke, 75, was due in federal court Thursday afternoon, prosecutors told
the Chicago Sun-Times. Attempted extortion could carry a maximum of 20 years in
prison.
 According to the FBI agent’s affidavit, executives from the fast food company
sought Burke’s support for a building permit. Burke arranged to meet with the
executives and “used his position as an Alderman — including his apparent
ability to withhold his official support for the building permit and a related
driveway permit — in order to corruptly solicit unlawful personal financial
advantage in the form of fees arising from the retention of Burke’s law firm,
Klafter and Burke.”
Burke declined comment when a Sun-Times reporter tried to question him outside
his lawyer’s office Thursday.
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FBI agents on Nov. 29 raided Burke’s City Hall
office, and federal agents also were at his 14th Ward district
office. Burke is by far the biggest fundraiser among Chicago’s 50
aldermen, known during his 50 years for his penchant for pinstriped
suits.
For decades he’s chaired the City Council’s
powerful Finance Committee, which controls city spending, as well as
the city’s $100 million a year workers’ compensation system. His
influence extends to judicial appointments and whether legislation
moves forward.
His law firm handles property tax appeals, counting some of
Chicago’s biggest businesses among its clients. Before Donald Trump
became president, Burke’s firm handled the property tax appeal on
Trump Tower in downtown Chicago.
Burke’s wife, Anne, is a justice on the Illinois Supreme Court.
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