Edward Burke, 75, has been alderman of the Chicago’s 14th Ward since 1968 when he succeeded his father. Earlier this month he resigned from office after being charged with attempted extortion. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison on the charges of using his position as alderman to drive business toward his private firm after an investigation involving recorded phone conversations and federal surveillance.
Ed Burke thought he was “playing nice with ‘em,” the feds say.
When two Burger King executives sought his support for a remodeling job of a fast-food location in his ward in 2017, Chicago’s most powerful alderman took them out for a swanky lunch at the Beverly Country Club — telling them all about his private law firm’s tax work.
Then, when they didn’t steer business to Klafter & Burke, a ward employee offered to play “hardball.” And Burke allegedly gave the green light.
That’s according to a bombshell 37-page criminal complaint unsealed Thursday that charged the powerhouse alderman with attempted extortion. After serving on the City Council for nearly half a century, Burke faced a federal judge Thursday, accused of using his position as alderman to try to steer business toward his private firm.
Burke, 75, now faces a maximum of 20 years in prison following an investigation that involved recorded calls on Burke’s cellphone and apparent federal surveillance of the alderman.
A criminal Democrat. Surprise! But, add another term often associated with liberals: hypocrite.
However, buzz generated after the news that the same career “Chicago Machine” Democrat who championed a number of gun control schemes in recent years also maintained some 23 firearms in his office located in the heart of a gun-free zone.
A former policeman and licensed private investigator, a 2012 CBS Chicago report noted at the time he was the only Chicago alderman to have a firearm owner’s card. Local media reports also explained that an 1872 law designating aldermen as “peace officers” allowed Burke to carry a weapon.
While in office, Burke has pushed to outlaw cell phone cases that were shaped like guns, advocated punishing the parents of youth who have firearms, ban guns from protests, and proposed a measure to require financial institutions working with the city to file a “Safe Guns Policy” affidavit vouching that their other business customers adhere to a list of firearm regulations such as prohibiting the sale of “high-capacity magazines” or barring gun sales to those under 21.
