Chicago's longest-serving alderman gained't run for reelection in face of federal corruption trial

Chicago’s longest-serving Alderman, Ed Burke, gained’t search reelection within the face of a federal corruption trial set to start subsequent 12 months.

Burke gained’t run for a fifteenth metropolis council time period as he appears to be like towards his upcoming trial in November 2023, based on the Chicago Solar Occasions. He didn’t submit paperwork to run for workplace once more earlier than a Monday night deadline, based on a number of reviews.

The longtime alderman got here beneath scrutiny for allegedly making an attempt to wield his metropolis council put up to learn his personal legislation agency, based on prosecutors.

In response to WBEZ, amongst Burke’s alleged misconduct are efforts to drive a Burger King and builders of Chicago’s Previous Major Publish Workplace constructing to rent his agency.

The FBI raided his Chicago Metropolis Corridor workplace again in 2018 and Burke has since been charged with tried extortion and racketeering. The alderman has pleaded not responsible.

His personal legislation agency, Klafter & Burke, beforehand labored for the Trump Group in Chicago, serving to to convey down the property tax on the Trump Tower within the metropolis.

Burke labored with Trump for greater than a decade, although he reportedly ended his skilled relationship with the previous president in 2018.