CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The corruption trial of one of the most prominent names in Chicago politics, former alderman Ed Burke, has begun.
Burke goes on trial on sweeping corruption charges in a racketeering indictment.
Federal prosecutors accuse him of a series of attempts to extort legal work in property tax appeals, campaign contributions and other favors from business owners.
The Tribune reported Burke's defense team will try to show that Burke's maneuvering was nothing more than politics as usual. The defense pointed out that Burke has not been charged with performing a single, official act as alderman in exchange for anything of value, and some of the projects related to the accusations weren't even in his ward.
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.
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