Former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke, once a powerful figure in city politics, was sentenced to two years in prison on Monday after being convicted on corruption charges in December.
In a December 21 trial, Burke was found guilty on all 13 counts, including racketeering, soliciting, accepting, and attempting to accept bribes, as well as using an interstate facility to promote illegal activity. The charges stemmed from his attempts to pressure developers, business owners, and other individuals into hiring his tax appeals firm.
During the trial, prosecutors sought a ten-year sentence for Burke, who is now 80 years old. However, the court handed down a two-year sentence, with the directive that Burke report to serve his sentence by September 23.
This conviction marks just one of nearly 30 corruption charges filed against Chicago area politicians in recent years. Notably, former Illinois Democrat House Speaker Michael Madigan, who held significant influence in Illinois politics for 40 years, has also been indicted on corruption charges. Madigan served as speaker for 38 years, from 1983 to 2021, before resigning in 2021 amidst allegations of corruption.
