USA v. Burke et al

  1. November 28, 2023

    Chicago Pol OK With 'Sharing The Wealth,' He Says On Tape

    Jurors tasked with determining whether former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke abused his considerable power heard on Tuesday the first secret recordings made by a key government cooperator, in which Burke urges the cooperator to recommend his law firm to a developer and promises a benefit to the informant as part of the deal.

  2. November 21, 2023

    Fast Food CEO Says Work Stalled After He Spurned Pol's Firm

    The top executive of one of the country's largest fast food franchisees testified Tuesday that he felt construction on a Chicago Burger King he was remodeling was shut down because he hadn't followed up with city Alderman Ed Burke about hiring his law firm and that work resumed after the company took steps to give Burke legal business.

  3. November 17, 2023

    Chicago Politician Says Bribery Case Lacks Smoking Gun

    Counsel for powerful former Chicago alderman Ed Burke told an Illinois federal jury Friday that jurors will see no tie between Burke's work as a lawyer on tax appeals and any city decision, urging them to reject prosecutors' claims that he repeatedly leveraged his City Council position to drum up business for his law firm.

  4. November 16, 2023

    Chicago Pol Sold His Power For Law Firm Business, Jury Told

    One of Chicago's longest-serving local politicians, former Alderman Edward Burke, used his considerable power to "line his own pockets with money," leveraging his position to steer business to his personal law firm and attempting to get a job for a family friend, federal prosecutors told a Chicago federal jury Thursday.

  5. November 09, 2023

    Chicago Alderman's Trial Postponed After Atty Gets COVID

    An attorney's positive test for COVID-19 prompted an Illinois federal judge on Thursday to postpone jury selection and opening statements in the public corruption trial of Chicago alderman Ed Burke, who is set to defend claims that he used his official position to extort tax business for his personal law firm.

  6. November 03, 2023

    Chicago Pol Faces Trial Over Allegedly Extorted Legal Work

    The trial of one of Chicago's longest serving and most powerful local politicians, former Alderman Edward Burke, is set to kick off in Illinois federal court on Monday.

  7. January 02, 2023

    Illinois Cases To Watch In 2023

    The Illinois Supreme Court is set to significantly help businesses in 2023 assess the risk of litigating biometric privacy claims, with anticipated decisions regarding how long plaintiffs can wait to sue over violations and how often their claims accrue.

  8. January 02, 2023

    Trials To Watch In 2023

    The coming year is set to bring trials in high-profile corruption and kickback prosecutions, first bellwethers for two notable multidistrict cases, and an airing of securities fraud claims over Elon Musk's Tesla tweets, among others.

  9. June 06, 2022

    Chicago Pol In Corruption Case Ordered To 'Tell It To A Jury'

    An Illinois federal judge on Monday refused to dismiss numerous charges in a sprawling indictment accusing longtime Chicago Alderman Edward Burke of racketeering, attempted extortion and bribery and rejected his bid to suppress evidence gathered from a wiretap on his cellphone, putting the case on course for a jury trial next year.

  10. August 20, 2020

    Powerful Chicago Pol Wants Charges Cut From Bribe Suit

    Chicago Alderman Ed Burke urged an Illinois federal judge Thursday to dismiss charges that he engaged in a criminal racketeering conspiracy and violated the Travel Act by trading his political clout for private tax work, arguing that the charges are based on unconstitutionally vague state statutes.