A jury has found former Chicago Ald. Ed Burke guilty on 13-of-14 federal corruption charges, tarnishing a decades-long reign as the city’s most powerful.
A verdict has been reached in the federal corruption trial of former Chicago Ald. Ed Burke, who for decades reigned as the city’s most powerful member of City.
There’s affection and respect for the man who mentored far more colleagues than he bullied during his record 54-year reign. Ald. Ray Lopez said Burke’s “fingerprints are on so much of what is Chicago. To have this as the final act of a remarkable career is a tragedy.”
Burke, 78, faces a November 2023 trial on racketeering, bribery and extortion charges centered on allegations that he repeatedly and brazenly used his powerful position at City Hall to force those doing business with the city to hire his private law firm.