CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A federal judge denied a motion for a mistrial in the corruption trial of former Chicago alderman Ed Burke on Thursday morning.
Burke's lawyers brought the motion after one witness said that hiring an alderman to do property tax work was the "Chicago way of doing business" and "very corrupt," according to court documents.
Prosecutors have charged the former alderman in four criminal schemes, three of which come back to Burke's work as a property tax attorney.
In making the ruling, Judge Virginia Kendall said she has "a very good jury" and added that there was "little to suggest there was an intentional act" by prosecutors.
Burke served as the alderman of the 14th Ward on the Southwest Side from 1969 to 2023, which made him the longest-serving alderman in Chicago history.
In his final meeting at Chicago City Council, some of Burke's former colleagues praised him as a "legend" who took care of Black businesses and contractors. Ald. Nick Sposato (38th) described Burke as "the truest of gentlemen that I've ever met in my life."
Burke, who up to that point had answered few questions since his indictment, said it was "bittersweet" to be leaving City Hall.
"As the scripture says, 'There's a time for everything,'" he said.
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