Posted on 05/19/2024 1:52:21 AM PDT by Libloather
Former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke, once a powerful Democrat, was found guilty of 13 out of 14 corruption charges, including racketeering, bribery, and extortion.
The case highlighted high-level corruption in Chicago’s city government, involving political favors for money.
The trial also implicated other officials and revealed widespread corruption in Illinois, leading to numerous convictions.
“This case was about bribery and extortion occurring at the highest level of Chicago city government,” U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual said.
“Burke has his hand out for money. He tied the giving of official action by him to the giving of money to him.”
“Alderman Burke is a very powerful alderman. This case has had massive publicity, 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,” Pasqual said.
(Excerpt) Read more at stateofunion.org ...
Prick may skate from prison...it’s illannoy.
I’m shocked that there is government corruption in Chicago. Shocked.
For a dem to be even investigated for corruption means the violations were very significant, or they fell out of favor for some reason.
“... that the federal government is out there, the FBI is out there,...”
From the two foremost corrupt federal entities, interesting.
It’s easy to surmise that an old white man hoovering up corruption money would be a target for an ambitious minority politician. Especially greedy females.
How many current have not been investigated, let alone found guilty? FJB
This dude pissed someone off. I’m surprised he didn’t sing like a Canary.
You have the little burg on the outskirts of Chicago, Dolton, with its SUPER MAYOR Tiffany running roughshod over the town who finally gets enough attention that the powers that be hired that paragon of virtue former Chicago mayor Lori Light-in the head-foot to investigate the allegations of corruption against Super Mayor Tiffany, nothing will be determined, yet this chump gets convicted…I’m shocked!
If you looked closely enough at just about any Dem run city (Phila, Baltimore, Chicago, SF, etc.) you will find corruption.
If they steal your money why wouldn’t they steal an election .
The article needs to mention that Burke’s wife Anne served on the Illinois Supreme Court from 2006 to 2022 . . .
C’mon man...a groaner, and I haven’t even had my first cup of coffee yet.
Now if they could get things like done in Congress and the Senate that would be progress and MAGA in one action.
Hope he gets repeatedly gang raped in prison.
It would be news if a Chicago alderman was not committing crimes.
Or they’re targeting a prominent Republican, and they don’t want the hypocrisy to be too blatant.
The outcome underscores the prevalence of public corruption in the state and its potential implications for the Democratic Party.
In a statement, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said, “Elected officials are responsible for serving with honesty and integrity, with a moral responsibility to their constituents to uphold and abide by the law. In the case that they fail to do so, it is imperative that they are held accountable. That is what the jury decided today.”
Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot released a statement, saying:
“With this jury’s verdict, Ed Burke should rightfully be remembered as a man who elevated personal ambition and greed over doing the people’s work.
“Along the way, Burke has had many, many enablers: the pernicious practice of aldermanic prerogative which, despite efforts to eliminate it, persists to this day, especially in zoning and development decisions. The other elected officials who, over the years, looked the other way as Burke systematically monetized the Finance Committee for his own personal benefit. And the party who gave Burke control over judicial nominations, so that decades of jurists became beholden to him.
“But like many before who feasted on their gluttonous power, Burke was felled because this total lack of accountability made him foolishly think he was invincible. So he grossly overplayed his hand. He dug his own grave and jumped in.
“Only time will tell if the lessons of Ed Burke’s ascent and spectacular fall will lead to desperately needed reforms begun, but not nearly finished, around transparency and accountability. But meanwhile, with this verdict, rendered by a jury of his peers, the tyranny of Ed Burke is over. I like to think somewhere, Harold is smiling.”
https://abc7chicago.com/alderman-ed-burke-trial-chicago-jury-deliberation-verdict/14212124/
by the way, who is Harold and why is he smiling?
Wha...?
Former mayoral candidate Paul Vallas urges leniency for Ed Burke, ‘whom I always felt met my standards for ethics’
https://chicago.suntimes.com/usa-vs-edward-burke/2024/04/30/paul-vallas-praises-ed-burke-worthy-leniency-letter-judge
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