Ald. Ed Burke Charged With Attempted Extortion

CHICAGO — Ald. Ed Burke (14th) was charged with attempted extortion Thursday. The alderman is accused of using his political office to solicit business for his private law firm. If convicted, he could face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The alderman turned himself in on Thursday and was released on a $10,000 bond. Burke was ordered to surrender his passport and the 23 firearms he owns.

The FBI conducted raids on Burke's office at City Hall in late November and mid-December. His office's doors and windows were papered over and computers and files were taken.

Burke's 14th Ward office on the city's Southwest Side was raided on Nov. 29.

According to a criminal complaint, owners of a fast-food company that operate restaurants in the Chicago area were seeking permits for remodeling a restaurant in Burke's 14th Ward. Burke allegedly tried to secure the company as a client for his firm through extortion, the complaint states.

According to multiple reports, the restaurant seeking permits was the Burger King at 4060 S. Pulaski Road — the same site of the 2014 shooting of Laquan McDonald.

Federal agents secretly recorded some of Burke's cell phone conversations, the complaint shows.

Before the restaurant's owners agreed to use Burke's firm, they faced barriers in obtaining the remodeling permits, according to the complaint. The alderman's office allegedly "demanded" that the restaurant's owners obtain a driveway permit.

One of Burke's ward employees told the alderman, "I'll play as hard ball as I can," the complaint stated.

Burke allegedly replied, "OK."

After the owners agreed to use Burke's firm, their permit issues went away, according to the complaint.

Court documents also allege that Burke took a campaign donation from the company for another politician, who was not named in the complaint.

Burke couldn't be reached for comment. He appeared before a magistrate judge at Dirksen U.S. Courthouse Thursday afternoon.

Burke has been 14th Ward alderman since 1969 and had planned to run for a record 14th term. He also has been the chairman of the City Council's Finance Committee; however according to a report by the Chicago Tribune, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said it would be "unacceptable" for Burke to continue as the chairman.

Burke’s attorney requested a preliminary hearing for Jan. 18.

Top image, video via YouTube/ABC 7: November raids on Ald. Ed Burke's offices.