Edward Burke, a former Chicago City Council member who was considered one of the city’s most powerful people, was found guilty on Thursday of racketeering, bribery, and attempted extortion.
Burke was convicted on 13 of the 14 corruption charges against him in a federal corruption trial in which prosecutors accused him of leveraging his government position to pressure private developers into hiring his law firm.
Until earlier this year, the Democrat, 79, had served on the Windy City’s council since 1969, making him the longest-serving council member.
A jury deliberated for nearly 24 hours before convicting Burke on charges including racketeering, a charge originally meant for members of organized crime, demanding, accepting, or agreeing to accept things of value, attempted extortion, corruptly soliciting, and using an interstate facility to promote unlawful activity. The jury…
