Ed Burke, a former influential Chicago Alderman, has been sentenced to two years in prison following his conviction on multiple corruption charges. Burke, who once wielded significant power in city hall, was arrested on charges of federal racketeering, bribery, and extortion, accused of leveraging his position to secure contracts for his law firm by pressuring businesses to hire him in exchange for favorable city services.
In December, Burke was convicted on all 13 counts, which included racketeering, corrupt solicitation, promoting unlawful activity via interstate facilities, and attempted extortion. The prosecution’s case heavily relied on secretly recorded conversations and videos with former Alderman Danny Solis, who turned informant after being charged with corruption himself.
Burke was found guilty of using his influence to pressure the developers of Chicago’s Old Post Office, a Burger King owner in his ward, and a Binny’s beverage store owner to hire his tax appeals firm. Despite the prosecution’s request for a ten-year sentence, the 80-year-old Burke received a two-year prison term and is scheduled to report to prison by September 23, as reported by WLS-TV in Chicago.
This conviction adds Burke to the list of nearly 30 Chicago area politicians charged with federal corruption in recent years. Among these is former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who dominated Illinois politics for 40 years and served as speaker for 38 years until 2021.
Burke, once a close ally of Barack Obama, is the latest in a series of high-profile corruption cases, reflecting ongoing challenges in addressing political corruption in Illinois.
