Ed Burke, once a powerful Democratic alderman in Chicago, was convicted of 13 counts of corruption on Thursday. The verdict ended his landmark corruption trial, which was seen as a devastating critique of Chicago’s corrupt political system.
Ed Burke’s Reign
For half a century, Alderman Ed Burke used his position to amass power, influence, and wealth. He was found to have forced people doing business with the city to hire his private law firm.
Multiple Counts
Burke was found guilty of 13 counts out of the 14 he was charged with. They include one count of racketeering, two counts of attempted extortion, two counts of federal program bribery, and eight counts of using interstate commerce to facilitate an unlawful activity.
Decades Looming
Each of these individual convictions comes with a hefty sentence. Racketeering alone carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Emotionless
Despite the significance of the charges, Burke remained emotionless. His mask broke only when his former aide, Peter Andrews, was acquitted of the charges he faced.
Partners
Upon hearing Andrews’ acquittal, Burke broke into a wide smile. He was apparently glad that the hundreds of thousands of dollars he spent funding Andrews’ defense paid off.
Long List
Since 1968, no fewer than 38 members of the Chicago City Council have been convicted of various crimes. The city is infamous for its corrupt politics.
Unacceptable
According to Morris Pasqual, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Burke “betrayed” the trust of the public. “The people have a right to honest and open government where decisions about official actions that public officials take or do not take are based not on their own private financial interest, but on the public interest,” Pasqual said. “This did not happen in this case.”
Greed
“This case was about bribery and extortion occurring at the highest level of Chicago city government,” Pasqual said. “Burke [had] his hand out for money. He tied the giving of official action by him to the giving of money to him.”
Powerful Man
At the height of his power, Burke was listed among the “100 Most Powerful Chicagoans” by Chicago Magazine. His 14 terms on the City Council make him the longest-serving alderman in the history of the city.
Lengthy Deliberation
The jury took 23 hours to make their unanimous decision. It was composed of nine women and three men, mainly from Chicago’s suburbs.
Warning to Others
“Alderman Burke is a very powerful alderman. This case has had massive publicity,” Pasqual said, “and I’d like to think that public officials who are out there who are tempted to start down this path will be on further notice that the federal government is out there, the FBI is out there.”
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