Jury finds ex-Alderman Ed Burke guilty on all counts but one
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[December 22, 2023]
By Brett Rowland | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – A jury found former Chicago
Alderman Ed Burke guilty of all counts expect one in his corruption case
Thursday, adding to a string of high-profile guilty verdicts brought
home by federal prosecutors this year.
Burke was indicted in 2019 on 19 counts of racketeering, extortion and
bribery. Prosecutors accused the longtime Alderman of using his power to
steer business to his private law practice, which specializes in
property tax appeals. Burke served as the head of the city's powerful
Finance Committee before he stepped down in May.
Burke, 79, was convicted of racketeering, bribery, attempted extortion,
conspiracy to commit extortion and using interstate commerce to
facilitate an unlawful activity. He was acquitted on one count of
conspiracy to commit extortion related to the redevelopment of a Burger
King.
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A co-defendant, real estate developer Charles Cui, 52, of
Lake Forest, was found guilty on five counts: corruptly offering or
agreeing to give things of value; using an interstate facility to
promote unlawful activity; and knowingly making a false statement to the
FBI. A third defendant, Peter Andrews, 74, of Chicago, an aide in
Burke's 14th Ward office, was acquitted of all charges against him.
U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall set a sentencing hearing for Burke
on June 19, 2024. Cui's sentencing hearing was set for June 17, 2024.
Prosecutors accused Burke of corruptly soliciting work for his private
law firm from companies involved in redevelopment projects at the Old
Main Post Office in downtown Chicago and a Burger King in Burke’s ward
on the Southwest Side. It also alleges that he corruptly attempted to
assist a business owner with a development on the Northwest Side shortly
after the business owner told Burke that he would engage Burke’s law
firm. The firm, Klafter & Burke, specialized in seeking property tax
reductions for corporate clients.
The charges also alleged that Burke threatened to oppose a Chicago
museum's admission fee increase because the museum failed to respond to
Burke’s inquiry about an internship at the museum for a child of Burke's
friend.
Racketeering, attempted extortion, and conspiracy to commit extortion
are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Federal program bribery
is punishable by up to ten years. Using interstate commerce to promote
unlawful activity and making a false statement to the FBI are each
punishable by up to five years.
"The jury's verdict is a clear warning to elected
officials: Illinois residents will not put up with government
corruption, and we are willing to stand up and hold public officials
accountable," Better Government Association President David Greising
said in a statement. "While Burke’s corruption is another sad chapter in
Chicago's history, the jury's action also is a step forward and an
affirmative statement that the bad old days are coming to an end."
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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said justice was
served.
"Elected officials are responsible for serving with honesty and
integrity, with a moral responsibility to their constituents to
uphold and abide by the law," he said in a statement. "In the case
that they fail to do so, it is imperative that they are held
accountable. That is what the jury decided today."
House Republican Leader Tony McCombie said Springfield needs to do
more.
“Illinois has weak ethics laws and House Republicans have been
pushing for significant reforms for years," she said in a statement.
"Democrats' complacency with the status quo continues to cheat and
take advantage of Illinois families by the very government who says
it is there to protect them. House Republicans have filed common
sense proposals and are more than willing to have bipartisan
discussions to close loopholes and enhance penalties for those who
violate the public’s trust."
Prosecutors put on evidence at the six-week trial that revealed that
Burke solicited work for his private law firm from companies
involved in redevelopment projects at the Old Main Post Office in
downtown Chicago and a Burger King restaurant on the city’s
Southwest Side. Burke also corruptly attempted to assist Cui with a
development on the city's Northwest Side shortly after Cui told
Burke that he would hire Burke's private law firm, Klafter & Burke,
for legal work.
Prosecutors also argued that Burke threatened to oppose an admission
fee increase at the Field Museum in Chicago because the museum
failed to respond to Burke’s inquiry about obtaining an internship
at the museum for a child of Burke’s friend.
Cui was convicted of steering the private legal work to Burke in an
effort to influence and reward him in connection with permitting and
tax increment financing for Cui’s development.
Burke served in the City Council from 1969 until earlier this year.
Burke is married to former Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne
Burke.
In May, federal prosecutors secured guilty verdicts in the case of
the ComEd 4, four former executives and lobbyists at the state's
largest utility convicted of a nine-year scheme to bride former
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
In August, a federal jury found Madigan's former chief of staff
guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice charges, convicting him
of lying to a grand jury to protect his former boss. Tim Mapes, 68,
served for years under Madigan as the clerk of the Illinois House
and as Madigan's chief of staff.
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