Lawyers and defendants in the Ed Burke trial appear before Judge Virginia Kendall on Nov. 30, 2023. (WTTW News)
The jury in the landmark corruption trial of former Ald. Ed Burke (14th Ward) deliberated quietly on Wednesday, giving observers no indication of how they are progressing through the massive and complicated case.
Pete Andrews, 73, one of the former alderperson’s codefendants and former aide, was at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse Wednesday, one day after his attorney told U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Kendall that Andrews had been hospitalized.
The jury of nine women and three men asked two questions on Tuesday and none on Wednesday. In all, they have deliberated for approximately 18 hours across three days and are set to resume Thursday morning.
They face a mammoth task as they decide whether to convict Burke and his two codefendants on 19 counts. A massive amount of evidence was presented during the six-week trial, which included testimony from three dozen witnesses and 100 recordings made as part of a court-authorized wiretap and undercover efforts by disgraced former Ald. Danny Solis (25th Ward).
Prosecutors detailed Burke’s involvement in what they say are four criminal schemes as part of their bid to depict the former alderperson as “thoroughly corrupt,” three involving his side hustle as a property tax attorney.
Burke, 79, faces 14 charges of racketeering, bribery and extortion. Racketeering charges — usually brought against members of the mob or street gangs — allege a pattern of corruption unknown to its victims.
Andrews, 73, of Chicago, faces five charges, including attempted extortion and making a false statement to the FBI.
Businessman Charles Cui, 52, of Lake Forest, also faces five charges, including bribery and making a false statement to the FBI.
Matt Masterson contributed to this report.
Contact Heather Cherone: @HeatherCherone | [email protected] | (773) 569-1863
