spec4 Posted January 4, 2019 at 09:29 PM Share Posted January 4, 2019 at 09:29 PM He's being charged and will be prosecuted by the feds, not his local cronies. I don't believe he can get help from Madigan and other Dem criminals once the feds sentence him. IANAL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddan Posted January 4, 2019 at 11:48 PM Share Posted January 4, 2019 at 11:48 PM The guy is 75 years old. Two choices: tough it out, and lose: go to FEDERAL prison for the rest of his life. Tough it out and win? Not likely. Federal prosecutors win some 95% of the cases the indict. Choice 2: Sing, serve up Madigan or Preckwinkle, enter WITSEC and move to Arizona. What would. You do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveTA84 Posted January 5, 2019 at 01:02 AM Share Posted January 5, 2019 at 01:02 AM The guy is 75 years old. Two choices: tough it out, and lose: go to FEDERAL prison for the rest of his life. Tough it out and win? Not likely. Federal prosecutors win some 95% of the cases the indict. Choice 2: Sing, serve up Madigan or Preckwinkle, enter WITSEC and move to Arizona. What would. You do.If he sings, we may have a good show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bird76Mojo Posted January 5, 2019 at 02:32 AM Share Posted January 5, 2019 at 02:32 AM If there's even an inkling that he's gonna turn rat, he'll be eliminated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomKoz Posted January 5, 2019 at 02:38 AM Share Posted January 5, 2019 at 02:38 AM If there's even an inkling that he's gonna turn rat, he'll be eliminated.Is that you Mikey ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mab22 Posted January 5, 2019 at 02:58 AM Share Posted January 5, 2019 at 02:58 AM If there's even an inkling that he's gonna turn rat, he'll be eliminated.Is that you Mikey ??Its not Mikey he has to worry about... they will just call the specialists Bill and Hill.The dim party has "The Clintons" to handle the "problems" It feels good to be a Clinton https://youtu.be/FECIYlo3KRY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikew Posted January 5, 2019 at 06:57 AM Share Posted January 5, 2019 at 06:57 AM Blago is singing "Won't you be my neighbor". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spec4 Posted January 5, 2019 at 01:49 PM Share Posted January 5, 2019 at 01:49 PM The dems probably have dirt on his wife that they could leak. That could help him be a good soldier and follow the code of silence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Posted January 5, 2019 at 05:17 PM Author Share Posted January 5, 2019 at 05:17 PM An article from this mornings read stated the fed's tapped his phone of almost 10,000 conversations. If it is the fed's listening then none of the Chicago politicians are safe. It would only take one call from one individual to say something that sends them down a new path. I hope to God Madigan was in Burkes "favorites." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Fife Posted January 5, 2019 at 07:06 PM Share Posted January 5, 2019 at 07:06 PM Is there any way the gun community in Chicago can use this momentum to get some of those crazy Chicago gun laws changed? Post your ideas here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikew Posted January 5, 2019 at 07:10 PM Share Posted January 5, 2019 at 07:10 PM Is there any way the gun community in Chicago can use this momentum to get some of those crazy Chicago gun laws changed? Post your ideas here. Which crazy Chicago gun laws are the top 3 on your list? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Fife Posted January 5, 2019 at 07:34 PM Share Posted January 5, 2019 at 07:34 PM I've never owned an AR, so maybe the assault weapon ban. Or at the very least exempt .22 calibers so I wouldn't have to keep a 10/22 squirrel gun in Wisconsin. It would be nice to get rid of home rule for starters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveTA84 Posted January 5, 2019 at 07:40 PM Share Posted January 5, 2019 at 07:40 PM An article from this mornings read stated the fed's tapped his phone of almost 10,000 conversations. If it is the fed's listening then none of the Chicago politicians are safe. It would only take one call from one individual to say something that sends them down a new path. I hope to God Madigan was in Burkes "favorites."Burke is as good as dead unless he’s in protective custody or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveTA84 Posted January 5, 2019 at 07:54 PM Share Posted January 5, 2019 at 07:54 PM https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-alderman-ed-burke-wiretap-20190104-story.html Longtime Ald. Edward Burke has spent decades at the pinnacle of the citys power structure, but in the end, he may have buried himself with his own words. The FBI had Burkes cellphone tapped over at least an eight-month period, and during that time, at least 9,475 calls were made or received on the phone, according to the bombshell corruption charges unveiled Thursday. Agents were listening in as the powerful Finance Committee chairman allegedly talked about extorting two executives seeking to renovate a fast-food restaurant in Burkes ward. When the businessmen didnt seem to be cooperating, Burke plotted with a ward staffer on how to play hardball, holding up permits and sending a city worker to the site to harass them with unwarranted citations, according to the charges. Legal experts who spoke to the Chicago Tribune said the fact that Burke himself was captured on recordings allegedly talking about the shakedown scheme makes it an extremely difficult case to defend if not a slam-dunk for the government........ While many of the calls were undoubtedly unrelated to the investigation such as hang-ups, wrong numbers or calls to relatives or friends about personal matters those details signaled there is more to the Burke investigation than what prosecutors chose to make public in the complaint, the legal experts said. It would seem to me that there was something else they were looking at and this extortion just fell into their lap, said Greenberg, who has handled many cases involving wiretaps. You cant just start listening in on someones phone calls. You have to have evidence of criminal activity going on. So the question is what evidence did they already have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C0untZer0 Posted January 5, 2019 at 11:31 PM Share Posted January 5, 2019 at 11:31 PM Madigan never speaks on the phone, he funnels most communications through Tim Mapes. Serious communications between Mapes and Madigan are always in person. The feds would have to flip Mapes or Vincent (“Bud”) J. Getzendanner, Jr. and have them wear a wire to ever get Madigan on tape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRJ Posted January 6, 2019 at 11:21 AM Share Posted January 6, 2019 at 11:21 AM Madigan never speaks on the phone, he funnels most communications through Tim Mapes. Serious communications between Mapes and Madigan are always in person. The feds would have to flip Mapes or Vincent (“Bud”) J. Getzendanner, Jr. and have them wear a wire to ever get Madigan on tape.Technology has advanced such that cell phones are listening devices if the federal government has a warrant. While Madigan has been careful and to my knowledge doesn't own a cellphone, everyone around him does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teufel Hunden Posted January 7, 2019 at 12:37 AM Share Posted January 7, 2019 at 12:37 AM I've never owned an AR, so maybe the assault weapon ban. Or at the very least exempt .22 calibers so I wouldn't have to keep a 10/22 squirrel gun in Wisconsin. It would be nice to get rid of home rule for starters.That cuts both ways on home rule. Some cities, like Hoffman Estates, preempt the stupid Cook County laws that would otherwise apply. Personally away appreciated that when I was a resident of Hoffman Estates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzard Posted January 7, 2019 at 01:18 AM Share Posted January 7, 2019 at 01:18 AM Let's not allow this discussion to derail into Chicago gun laws, please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C0untZer0 Posted January 7, 2019 at 02:38 PM Share Posted January 7, 2019 at 02:38 PM Is Dennis K. Burke (one of the architects of Fast & Furious) related to Chicago Alderman Ed Burke ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanook Posted January 7, 2019 at 06:10 PM Share Posted January 7, 2019 at 06:10 PM Blago is singing "Won't you be my neighbor". Ha, excellent take. Wouldn't that be nice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Fife Posted January 8, 2019 at 12:11 AM Share Posted January 8, 2019 at 12:11 AM Just saw on channel 9 news that he may still have security but just called something else. He also has a city SUV and driver to ferry him around it seems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quackersmacker Posted January 8, 2019 at 02:16 AM Share Posted January 8, 2019 at 02:16 AM Blago is singing "Won't you be my neighbor". Ha, excellent take. Wouldn't that be nice? Cellmates? Maybe not. A court might call that cruel and unusual punishment, for both of them. So do it and throw away the key! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTHunter Posted January 8, 2019 at 08:11 PM Share Posted January 8, 2019 at 08:11 PM An article from this mornings read stated the fed's tapped his phone of almost 10,000 conversations. If it is the fed's listening then none of the Chicago politicians are safe. It would only take one call from one individual to say something that sends them down a new path. I hope to God Madigan was in Burkes "favorites." In all likelihood, they were all using "burner" phones for those "special calls". They would get those cheap phones with their limit of 15 minutes for 2 months, maybe adding 30 minutes by paying cash, then throwing the phone in some dumpster after stamping on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRJ Posted January 8, 2019 at 08:28 PM Share Posted January 8, 2019 at 08:28 PM An article from this mornings read stated the fed's tapped his phone of almost 10,000 conversations. If it is the fed's listening then none of the Chicago politicians are safe. It would only take one call from one individual to say something that sends them down a new path. I hope to God Madigan was in Burkes "favorites." In all likelihood, they were all using "burner" phones for those "special calls". They would get those cheap phones with their limit of 15 minutes for 2 months, maybe adding 30 minutes by paying cash, then throwing the phone in some dumpster after stamping on it. Madigan doesn't speak on the phone as a rule, and reportedly doesn't have a cell phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flynn Posted January 24, 2019 at 04:09 AM Share Posted January 24, 2019 at 04:09 AM Appears Burke might just be the tip of the iceberg. "The records gave an indication of the scope of the broader investigation — nine undisclosed individuals and 14 entities are referred to without explanation" https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-alderman-ed-burke-search-warrant-20190123-story.html Records show what FBI sought and seized in raid on Ald. Edward Burke's City Hall office When the FBI raided Ald. Edward Burke’s City Hall office in November, agents seized folders naming a well-connected City Hall lobbyist, information about tax increment financing districts and documents pertaining to the major real-estate deal for the Old Main Post Office, according to records made public Wednesday night. The documents released to the Chicago Tribune in response to a public records request to the City Council’s Finance Committee include the seven-page warrant listing the items the FBI was seeking as well as a handwritten list of items agents left with hours later. While the records do not include the affidavit attached to the search warrant — which likely contained detailed information about the underlying investigation — they do add new insight into the scope of what agents were seeking when they went to City Hall on Nov. 29 and covered the windows of Burke’s office with brown butcher paper. Among the items sought were documents and communications concerning Burke’s “efforts to obtain employment, patronage jobs, or other benefits for his personal associates” in exchange for his official duties as alderman and chairman of the Finance Committee, according to the records. Agents were looking for any evidence of “referral fees, fee-splitting, fee-sharing, and consulting agreements” involving Burke’s law firm, Klafter & Burke, the records show. They also demanded contact information and the work locations of all of Burke’s employees. The haul removed by agents that day included a Rolodex, a personal phone book and numerous computer towers, hard drives and thumb drives, the records show. Other items taken were labeled by the FBI as checks to or from Burke’s law firm; TIF files from Burke’s 14th Ward; an unidentified résumé; “Water Commissioner documents” and something labeled “Old Main Post Office file.” The records gave an indication of the scope of the broader investigation — nine undisclosed individuals and 14 entities are referred to without explanation. Two folders taken by agents concerned Brian Hynes — an apparent reference to the longtime lobbyist and lawyer with deep connections to House Speaker Michael Madigan. Hynes grew up near Madigan on the Southwest Side, and later worked on Madigan’s staff, according to a profile of him in Crain’s 40 Under 40 list. Hynes was a registered lobbyist for the city in 2011, 2012 and 2013, according to Chicago Board of Ethics records. State records show he was also a registered state lobbyist from 2010 to 2017. Chicago Ald. Edward Burke, who has represented the 14th Ward for decades and become one of the city's most powerful figures, has been charged with attempted extortion following FBI raids on his City Hall and Southwest Side ward offices. (Chicago Tribune)Hynes also co-founded Vendor Assistance Program LLC along with Patti Solis Doyle, a sister of Ald. Daniel Solis, who the Sun-Times reported wore a wire for the FBI as part of an investigation into Burke. She no longer has an interest in the company. Hynes could not be reached for comment late Wednesday. At a public forum for 14th Ward candidates, Burke did not respond to questions about Hynes. Burke is seeking re-election despite the federal charges against him. Burke, 75, was charged earlier this month with attempted extortion. The criminal complaint accused him of using his position as alderman to threaten to shut down the renovation of a Burger King at 40th Street and Pulaski Road unless executives for the company that owned the franchise hired Klafter & Burke to handle tax appeals for dozens of its restaurant sites in the Chicago area. The complaint also alleges that Burke pressured one of the company’s executives in December 2017 to contribute to the campaign of an unnamed local politician. Sources identified the politician as Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who is running for Chicago mayor. While the allegations have a familiar ring, the details in the 37-page complaint hint that it could be the tip of the iceberg for Burke. According to the complaint, the FBI had won a judge’s approval to wiretap Burke’s cellphone and was already recording his calls before the alleged shakedown at the center of the charge began to unfold in May 2017. It’s unknown what other evidence federal prosecutors presented in the application for the wiretap because that filing is under seal. The complaint quotes Burke in a handful of conversations from May 2017 to January 2018 talking in surprisingly blunt language about the alleged extortion of the out-of-state businessmen, whom the alderman did not know well. Agents were listening in as the powerful Finance Committee chairman allegedly talked about extorting two executives seeking to renovate a fast-food restaurant in Burke’s ward. When the businessmen didn’t seem to be cooperating, Burke plotted with a ward staffer on how to play “hard ball,” holding up permits and sending a city worker to the site to harass them with unwarranted citations, according to the charges. In all, 9,475 calls were made or received on Burke’s phone during the eight-month time frame of the alleged scheme, the complaint showed. Burke, free on a $10,000 unsecured bond, has yet to enter a plea, but his attorney, Charles Sklarsky, has said the allegations were meritless. Federal prosecutors recently were granted a 90-day extension to file an indictment in the case. The new deadline is May 3. Chicago Tribune’s John Byrne, Hal Dardick and Gregory Pratt contributed. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com Records show what FBI sought and seized in raid on Ald. Edward Burke's City Hall office Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveTA84 Posted January 24, 2019 at 04:23 AM Share Posted January 24, 2019 at 04:23 AM Good, Madigan ties in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colt guy Posted January 24, 2019 at 06:52 AM Share Posted January 24, 2019 at 06:52 AM Appears Burke might just be the tip of the iceberg. "The records gave an indication of the scope of the broader investigation — nine undisclosed individuals and 14 entities are referred to without explanation" https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-alderman-ed-burke-search-warrant-20190123-story.html Records show what FBI sought and seized in raid on Ald. Edward Burke's City Hall office When the FBI raided Ald. Edward Burke’s City Hall office in November, agents seized folders naming a well-connected City Hall lobbyist, information about tax increment financing districts and documents pertaining to the major real-estate deal for the Old Main Post Office, according to records made public Wednesday night. The documents released to the Chicago Tribune in response to a public records request to the City Council’s Finance Committee include the seven-page warrant listing the items the FBI was seeking as well as a handwritten list of items agents left with hours later. While the records do not include the affidavit attached to the search warrant — which likely contained detailed information about the underlying investigation — they do add new insight into the scope of what agents were seeking when they went to City Hall on Nov. 29 and covered the windows of Burke’s office with brown butcher paper. Among the items sought were documents and communications concerning Burke’s “efforts to obtain employment, patronage jobs, or other benefits for his personal associates” in exchange for his official duties as alderman and chairman of the Finance Committee, according to the records. Agents were looking for any evidence of “referral fees, fee-splitting, fee-sharing, and consulting agreements” involving Burke’s law firm, Klafter & Burke, the records show. They also demanded contact information and the work locations of all of Burke’s employees. The haul removed by agents that day included a Rolodex, a personal phone book and numerous computer towers, hard drives and thumb drives, the records show. Other items taken were labeled by the FBI as checks to or from Burke’s law firm; TIF files from Burke’s 14th Ward; an unidentified résumé; “Water Commissioner documents” and something labeled “Old Main Post Office file.” The records gave an indication of the scope of the broader investigation — nine undisclosed individuals and 14 entities are referred to without explanation. Two folders taken by agents concerned Brian Hynes — an apparent reference to the longtime lobbyist and lawyer with deep connections to House Speaker Michael Madigan. Hynes grew up near Madigan on the Southwest Side, and later worked on Madigan’s staff, according to a profile of him in Crain’s 40 Under 40 list. Hynes was a registered lobbyist for the city in 2011, 2012 and 2013, according to Chicago Board of Ethics records. State records show he was also a registered state lobbyist from 2010 to 2017. Chicago Ald. Edward Burke, who has represented the 14th Ward for decades and become one of the city's most powerful figures, has been charged with attempted extortion following FBI raids on his City Hall and Southwest Side ward offices. (Chicago Tribune)Hynes also co-founded Vendor Assistance Program LLC along with Patti Solis Doyle, a sister of Ald. Daniel Solis, who the Sun-Times reported wore a wire for the FBI as part of an investigation into Burke. She no longer has an interest in the company. Hynes could not be reached for comment late Wednesday. At a public forum for 14th Ward candidates, Burke did not respond to questions about Hynes. Burke is seeking re-election despite the federal charges against him. Burke, 75, was charged earlier this month with attempted extortion. The criminal complaint accused him of using his position as alderman to threaten to shut down the renovation of a Burger King at 40th Street and Pulaski Road unless executives for the company that owned the franchise hired Klafter & Burke to handle tax appeals for dozens of its restaurant sites in the Chicago area. The complaint also alleges that Burke pressured one of the company’s executives in December 2017 to contribute to the campaign of an unnamed local politician. Sources identified the politician as Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who is running for Chicago mayor. While the allegations have a familiar ring, the details in the 37-page complaint hint that it could be the tip of the iceberg for Burke. According to the complaint, the FBI had won a judge’s approval to wiretap Burke’s cellphone and was already recording his calls before the alleged shakedown at the center of the charge began to unfold in May 2017. It’s unknown what other evidence federal prosecutors presented in the application for the wiretap because that filing is under seal. The complaint quotes Burke in a handful of conversations from May 2017 to January 2018 talking in surprisingly blunt language about the alleged extortion of the out-of-state businessmen, whom the alderman did not know well. Agents were listening in as the powerful Finance Committee chairman allegedly talked about extorting two executives seeking to renovate a fast-food restaurant in Burke’s ward. When the businessmen didn’t seem to be cooperating, Burke plotted with a ward staffer on how to play “hard ball,” holding up permits and sending a city worker to the site to harass them with unwarranted citations, according to the charges. In all, 9,475 calls were made or received on Burke’s phone during the eight-month time frame of the alleged scheme, the complaint showed. Burke, free on a $10,000 unsecured bond, has yet to enter a plea, but his attorney, Charles Sklarsky, has said the allegations were meritless. Federal prosecutors recently were granted a 90-day extension to file an indictment in the case. The new deadline is May 3. Chicago Tribune’s John Byrne, Hal Dardick and Gregory Pratt contributed. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com Records show what FBI sought and seized in raid on Ald. Edward Burke's City Hall officeBullet points for those that will not pay for that rag “newspaper” ?Hopefully lots more to come since Alderbum Solis was recording him too ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flynn Posted January 24, 2019 at 07:19 AM Share Posted January 24, 2019 at 07:19 AM Bullet points for those that will not pay for that rag “newspaper” ? Click the spoiler tag, I copy and pasted the entire article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChicagoRonin70 Posted January 24, 2019 at 07:22 AM Share Posted January 24, 2019 at 07:22 AM Appears Burke might just be the tip of the iceberg. "The records gave an indication of the scope of the broader investigation — nine undisclosed individuals and 14 entities are referred to without explanation" https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-alderman-ed-burke-search-warrant-20190123-story.html Records show what FBI sought and seized in raid on Ald. Edward Burke's City Hall office When the FBI raided Ald. Edward Burke’s City Hall office in November, agents seized folders naming a well-connected City Hall lobbyist, information about tax increment financing districts and documents pertaining to the major real-estate deal for the Old Main Post Office, according to records made public Wednesday night. The documents released to the Chicago Tribune in response to a public records request to the City Council’s Finance Committee include the seven-page warrant listing the items the FBI was seeking as well as a handwritten list of items agents left with hours later. While the records do not include the affidavit attached to the search warrant — which likely contained detailed information about the underlying investigation — they do add new insight into the scope of what agents were seeking when they went to City Hall on Nov. 29 and covered the windows of Burke’s office with brown butcher paper. Among the items sought were documents and communications concerning Burke’s “efforts to obtain employment, patronage jobs, or other benefits for his personal associates” in exchange for his official duties as alderman and chairman of the Finance Committee, according to the records. Agents were looking for any evidence of “referral fees, fee-splitting, fee-sharing, and consulting agreements” involving Burke’s law firm, Klafter & Burke, the records show. They also demanded contact information and the work locations of all of Burke’s employees. The haul removed by agents that day included a Rolodex, a personal phone book and numerous computer towers, hard drives and thumb drives, the records show. Other items taken were labeled by the FBI as checks to or from Burke’s law firm; TIF files from Burke’s 14th Ward; an unidentified résumé; “Water Commissioner documents” and something labeled “Old Main Post Office file.” The records gave an indication of the scope of the broader investigation — nine undisclosed individuals and 14 entities are referred to without explanation. Two folders taken by agents concerned Brian Hynes — an apparent reference to the longtime lobbyist and lawyer with deep connections to House Speaker Michael Madigan. Hynes grew up near Madigan on the Southwest Side, and later worked on Madigan’s staff, according to a profile of him in Crain’s 40 Under 40 list. Hynes was a registered lobbyist for the city in 2011, 2012 and 2013, according to Chicago Board of Ethics records. State records show he was also a registered state lobbyist from 2010 to 2017. Chicago Ald. Edward Burke, who has represented the 14th Ward for decades and become one of the city's most powerful figures, has been charged with attempted extortion following FBI raids on his City Hall and Southwest Side ward offices. (Chicago Tribune)Hynes also co-founded Vendor Assistance Program LLC along with Patti Solis Doyle, a sister of Ald. Daniel Solis, who the Sun-Times reported wore a wire for the FBI as part of an investigation into Burke. She no longer has an interest in the company. Hynes could not be reached for comment late Wednesday. At a public forum for 14th Ward candidates, Burke did not respond to questions about Hynes. Burke is seeking re-election despite the federal charges against him. Burke, 75, was charged earlier this month with attempted extortion. The criminal complaint accused him of using his position as alderman to threaten to shut down the renovation of a Burger King at 40th Street and Pulaski Road unless executives for the company that owned the franchise hired Klafter & Burke to handle tax appeals for dozens of its restaurant sites in the Chicago area. The complaint also alleges that Burke pressured one of the company’s executives in December 2017 to contribute to the campaign of an unnamed local politician. Sources identified the politician as Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who is running for Chicago mayor. While the allegations have a familiar ring, the details in the 37-page complaint hint that it could be the tip of the iceberg for Burke. According to the complaint, the FBI had won a judge’s approval to wiretap Burke’s cellphone and was already recording his calls before the alleged shakedown at the center of the charge began to unfold in May 2017. It’s unknown what other evidence federal prosecutors presented in the application for the wiretap because that filing is under seal. The complaint quotes Burke in a handful of conversations from May 2017 to January 2018 talking in surprisingly blunt language about the alleged extortion of the out-of-state businessmen, whom the alderman did not know well. Agents were listening in as the powerful Finance Committee chairman allegedly talked about extorting two executives seeking to renovate a fast-food restaurant in Burke’s ward. When the businessmen didn’t seem to be cooperating, Burke plotted with a ward staffer on how to play “hard ball,” holding up permits and sending a city worker to the site to harass them with unwarranted citations, according to the charges. In all, 9,475 calls were made or received on Burke’s phone during the eight-month time frame of the alleged scheme, the complaint showed. Burke, free on a $10,000 unsecured bond, has yet to enter a plea, but his attorney, Charles Sklarsky, has said the allegations were meritless. Federal prosecutors recently were granted a 90-day extension to file an indictment in the case. The new deadline is May 3. Chicago Tribune’s John Byrne, Hal Dardick and Gregory Pratt contributed. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com Records show what FBI sought and seized in raid on Ald. Edward Burke's City Hall officeBullet points for those that will not pay for that rag “newspaper” ?Hopefully lots more to come since Alderbum Solis was recording him too ! I think the writing was on the wall when Solis sided with Fritz Kaegi against Joe Berrios, who was definitely in Madigan's pocket with regard to the property tax reduction racket. Not a huge fan of Solis, for some valid reasons, but it seems like he reached his limit with the corruption he could countenance and decided to do some good for the people by taking down Burke and hopefully more of the dog-leg politicians in this state connected to Fast-Fingers Eddie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colt guy Posted January 24, 2019 at 07:27 AM Share Posted January 24, 2019 at 07:27 AM Appears Burke might just be the tip of the iceberg. "The records gave an indication of the scope of the broader investigation — nine undisclosed individuals and 14 entities are referred to without explanation" https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-alderman-ed-burke-search-warrant-20190123-story.html Records show what FBI sought and seized in raid on Ald. Edward Burke's City Hall office When the FBI raided Ald. Edward Burke’s City Hall office in November, agents seized folders naming a well-connected City Hall lobbyist, information about tax increment financing districts and documents pertaining to the major real-estate deal for the Old Main Post Office, according to records made public Wednesday night. The documents released to the Chicago Tribune in response to a public records request to the City Council’s Finance Committee include the seven-page warrant listing the items the FBI was seeking as well as a handwritten list of items agents left with hours later. While the records do not include the affidavit attached to the search warrant — which likely contained detailed information about the underlying investigation — they do add new insight into the scope of what agents were seeking when they went to City Hall on Nov. 29 and covered the windows of Burke’s office with brown butcher paper. Among the items sought were documents and communications concerning Burke’s “efforts to obtain employment, patronage jobs, or other benefits for his personal associates” in exchange for his official duties as alderman and chairman of the Finance Committee, according to the records. Agents were looking for any evidence of “referral fees, fee-splitting, fee-sharing, and consulting agreements” involving Burke’s law firm, Klafter & Burke, the records show. They also demanded contact information and the work locations of all of Burke’s employees. The haul removed by agents that day included a Rolodex, a personal phone book and numerous computer towers, hard drives and thumb drives, the records show. Other items taken were labeled by the FBI as checks to or from Burke’s law firm; TIF files from Burke’s 14th Ward; an unidentified résumé; “Water Commissioner documents” and something labeled “Old Main Post Office file.” The records gave an indication of the scope of the broader investigation — nine undisclosed individuals and 14 entities are referred to without explanation. Two folders taken by agents concerned Brian Hynes — an apparent reference to the longtime lobbyist and lawyer with deep connections to House Speaker Michael Madigan. Hynes grew up near Madigan on the Southwest Side, and later worked on Madigan’s staff, according to a profile of him in Crain’s 40 Under 40 list. Hynes was a registered lobbyist for the city in 2011, 2012 and 2013, according to Chicago Board of Ethics records. State records show he was also a registered state lobbyist from 2010 to 2017. Chicago Ald. Edward Burke, who has represented the 14th Ward for decades and become one of the city's most powerful figures, has been charged with attempted extortion following FBI raids on his City Hall and Southwest Side ward offices. (Chicago Tribune)Hynes also co-founded Vendor Assistance Program LLC along with Patti Solis Doyle, a sister of Ald. Daniel Solis, who the Sun-Times reported wore a wire for the FBI as part of an investigation into Burke. She no longer has an interest in the company. Hynes could not be reached for comment late Wednesday. At a public forum for 14th Ward candidates, Burke did not respond to questions about Hynes. Burke is seeking re-election despite the federal charges against him. Burke, 75, was charged earlier this month with attempted extortion. The criminal complaint accused him of using his position as alderman to threaten to shut down the renovation of a Burger King at 40th Street and Pulaski Road unless executives for the company that owned the franchise hired Klafter & Burke to handle tax appeals for dozens of its restaurant sites in the Chicago area. The complaint also alleges that Burke pressured one of the company’s executives in December 2017 to contribute to the campaign of an unnamed local politician. Sources identified the politician as Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who is running for Chicago mayor. While the allegations have a familiar ring, the details in the 37-page complaint hint that it could be the tip of the iceberg for Burke. According to the complaint, the FBI had won a judge’s approval to wiretap Burke’s cellphone and was already recording his calls before the alleged shakedown at the center of the charge began to unfold in May 2017. It’s unknown what other evidence federal prosecutors presented in the application for the wiretap because that filing is under seal. The complaint quotes Burke in a handful of conversations from May 2017 to January 2018 talking in surprisingly blunt language about the alleged extortion of the out-of-state businessmen, whom the alderman did not know well. Agents were listening in as the powerful Finance Committee chairman allegedly talked about extorting two executives seeking to renovate a fast-food restaurant in Burke’s ward. When the businessmen didn’t seem to be cooperating, Burke plotted with a ward staffer on how to play “hard ball,” holding up permits and sending a city worker to the site to harass them with unwarranted citations, according to the charges. In all, 9,475 calls were made or received on Burke’s phone during the eight-month time frame of the alleged scheme, the complaint showed. Burke, free on a $10,000 unsecured bond, has yet to enter a plea, but his attorney, Charles Sklarsky, has said the allegations were meritless. Federal prosecutors recently were granted a 90-day extension to file an indictment in the case. The new deadline is May 3. Chicago Tribune’s John Byrne, Hal Dardick and Gregory Pratt contributed. jmeisner@chicagotribune.comRecords show what FBI sought and seized in raid on Ald. Edward Burke's City Hall office Bullet points for those that will not pay for that rag “newspaper” ?Hopefully lots more to come since Alderbum Solis was recording him too ! I think the writing was on the wall when Solis sided with Fritz Kaegi against Joe Berrios, who was definitely in Madigan's pocket with regard to the property tax reduction racket. Not a huge fan of Solis, for some valid reasons, but it seems like he reached his limit with the corruption he could countenance and decided to do some good for the people by taking down Burke and hopefully more of the dog-leg politicians in this state connected to Fast-Fingers Eddie.Or they had some pretty bad dirt on him and he saved his own hide Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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