Overview

• Former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke has been found guilty on 13 of 14 corruption charges, including racketeering, federal program bribery, and attempted extortion.
• Burke, who served on Chicago's city council for 54 years, was accused of using his political influence to pressure private developers into hiring his law firm.
• The charges stem from multiple incidents, including Burke's attempts to extort Burger King executives by withholding construction permits unless they signed on as clients at his property tax law firm.
• Burke's sentencing is scheduled for June 19, 2023, and he faces potentially decades in prison.
• Burke's conviction is the latest in a string of high-profile corruption cases in Chicago, prompting calls for a culture shift at City Council.