Senior member of Chicago City Council accused of corruption
July 1, 2021
FacebookTwitterEmail
CHICAGO (AP) Another member of Chicago’s City Council is facing corruption charges, the U.S. attorney’s office announced Thursday.
Alderman Carrie Austin and her chief of staff Chester Wilson are accused of bribery. The indictment alleges Austin, 72, and Wilson, 55, conspired to receive home improvements from construction contractors seeking city assistance for a proposed development in Austin’s ward.
Austin, who is also charged with lying to the FBI, is now one of three sitting members of Chicago’s City Council under federal indictment. Also facing corruption charges are long-time Alderman Ed Burke and Alderman Patrick Daley Thompson, who is related to former Mayors Richard J. Daley and Richard M. Daley.
CHICAGO â Alderman Patrick Daley Thompson, grandson and nephew of two legendary Chicago mayors, pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal charges stemming from an investigation into the collapse of a clout-heavy bank in his familyâs longtime Bridgeport neighborhood.
Thompson, 51, entered his plea during an arraignment by telephone before U.S. District Judge Franklin Valderrama, who set a recognizance bond for Thompson.
The alderman spoke only briefly during the 30-minute hearing, answering, âYes your honorâ when asked if he was prepared to go forward with the arraignment remotely.
Meanwhile, Thompsonâs lawyer, Chris Gair, made several inferences to the weakness of the charges and said he was seeking a speedy trial to clear the aldermanâs name.
CHICAGO â Alderman Patrick Daley Thompson, grandson and nephew of two legendary Chicago mayors, pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal charges stemming from an investigation into the collapse of a clout-heavy bank in his familyâs longtime Bridgeport neighborhood.
Thompson, 51, entered his plea during an arraignment by telephone before U.S. District Judge Franklin Valderrama, who set a recognizance bond for Thompson.
The alderman spoke only briefly during the 30-minute hearing, answering, âYes your honorâ when asked if he was prepared to go forward with the arraignment remotely.
Meanwhile, Thompsonâs lawyer, Chris Gair, made several inferences to the weakness of the charges and said he was seeking a speedy trial to clear the aldermanâs name.
Chicago Alderman Patrick Daley Thompson pleads not guilty to federal charges
By FOX 32 Digital Staff
Published
Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson | CREDIT: Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson s Facebook page
CHICAGO - Chicago Alderman Patrick Daley Thompson appeared in federal court on Thursday for filing false tax returns and making false statements on a federal loan application.
He pleaded not guilty to federal criminal charges.
Lawyers argued during the hearing about whether Thompson should have to turn his passport over to the government while awaiting trial, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.
The condition is routine for defendants charged in federal court. But defense attorney Chris Gair called it just punitive.