:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tronc/NHOGGSUPHFCTTD67VQI5LZAIQA.jpg "Ald. Edward Burke")
Nearly five years since the initiation of federal investigations into the longstanding political order of Chicago, the upcoming trial of Edward Burke, a former alderman, and his co-defendants is anticipated to offer an unprecedented glimpse into the city’s political machinations. The trials follow a sequence of events that began with the FBI’s raid on City Hall, an action that symbolized the start of a significant political shift in a city well-versed in corruption investigations.
In a spectacle that broke the calm of a Thursday morning, the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant at the office of Alderman Edward Burke, a development that would mark the beginning of the end for the decades-long influence wielded by two prominent figures of the Chicago Democratic establishment. The ensuing months saw the indictment of Burke, along with a series of raids on various politicians and lobbyists connected to the then-House Speaker of Illinois, Michael Madigan, culminating in Madigan’s own indictment in March 2022.
The trial, scheduled to commence on Monday, is expected to lay out details of Burke’s dealings. Burke, who has served for over 50 years and was considered a central figure in the City Council, has been charged with leveraging his significant political influence for personal gain. While Madigan’s indictment pointed to a complex web involving clandestine payments from major utility companies, the accusations against Burke appear to be more direct, involving permits and other small-scale city business arrangements.
Central to the government’s case is a purported scheme tied to the $800 million renovation of the Old Post Office, wherein Burke is accused of using his office to solicit business for his private law firm. However, unlike Madigan’s alleged offenses, Burke’s acts seem to represent a classic narrative of local-level graft.
Burke’s defense attorneys are set to argue that their client’s actions were within the norm of political operations, emphasizing that Burke is not directly charged with performing any official actions in direct exchange for personal benefits. Key to their strategy is the discrediting of former Alderman Daniel Solis, who, after being implicated in his own corruption scandal, cooperated with the FBI and recorded conversations with Burke over two years. Solis secured a deferred prosecution agreement, allowing him to maintain his city pension despite his cooperation with federal investigators.
The complexity of the case is likely to be on full display during the jury selection process in the court of U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall. Prospective jurors have undergone prescreening and filled out detailed questionnaires to identify any biases or preconceived notions about the case or political figures in general. The selection is expected to be meticulous, with live questioning of the jury pool conducted in stages.
Burke, now 79, faces 14 counts, including racketeering, federal program bribery, and attempted extortion, among other charges. Peter Andrews Jr., Burke’s longtime ward aide, and Charles Cui, a real estate developer, are also facing charges related to the case. All have entered pleas of not guilty.
The forthcoming trial is not just a matter of legal proceedings for the individuals involved, but it also represents a crucial moment of accountability for a city whose politics have been historically marred by corruption. As the trial progresses, it will potentially unveil the intricate layers of influence and backdoor dealings that have characterized Chicago’s political scene for decades.
