Former Chicago Ald. Ed Burke makes his way through security at the Dirksen Courthouse on Nov. 6, 2023. (WTTW News)
Convicted former Ald. Ed Burke (14th Ward) spent more than $3.8 million in campaign cash in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid being convicted of racketeering, bribery and attempted extortion, according to records filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Burke was convicted Dec. 21 on 13 counts of racketeering, bribery and extortion after a six-week trial, and is scheduled to be sentenced June 24. Burke paid two law firms, Blegen & Garvey and Breen & Pugh, approximately $769,000 one month after his conviction, according to the most recent quarterly report filed with the Illinois State Board of Election by the former alderperson’s main campaign account, Friends of Edward M. Burke.
Between July 2019 and March 2022, Burke’s legal bills totaled $3 million, as his team fought to get the charges against him tossed out while sifting through massive amounts of evidence in the landmark corruption trial that ended with a searing indictment of Chicago’s political system, which Burke used to amass power for half a century.
But Burke, 80, has plenty of campaign cash left on hand to appeal the jury’s verdict and delay any prison sentence. His campaign account still has approximately $8 million in investments, the nest egg left over from decades spent amassing cash alongside political power.
Because the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the use of campaign funds to cover legal defense fees in March 2022, Burke did not have to dip into his annual city taxpayer-funded pension of more than $96,000.
After he is sentenced, Burke will likely be stripped of his pension by a state board because he was convicted of committing criminal wrongdoing in his official role as an elected Chicago official.
When he left office last May, Burke was the longest-serving member of the City Council, earning more than $120,408 annually.
In all, Burke paid into city pension funds for 62 years. Before becoming the longest-serving alderperson in Chicago history, Burke worked for the Chicago Park District and as a detective for the Chicago Police Department. During that time, Burke contributed approximately $300,000 toward his retirement.
In 1998, then-Gov. Jim Edgar banned politicians from using campaign cash on personal expenses, like mortgages and tuition payments. But the law placed no restrictions on the way politicians in office at the time could use the campaign cash they had already banked. That provision will allow Burke to spend the $2.45 million he had on hand as of June 30, 1998, in whatever way he wishes.
Contact Heather Cherone: @HeatherCherone | (773) 569-1863 | [email protected]
