As the former chairman of the City Council’s Finance Committee, Burke is accused of leveraging his influential position to solicit and receive bribes from real estate developers between 2016 and 2018. The alleged scheme involved seeking legal fees for his law firm, Klafter & Burke, from entities conducting business before the city or his committee, according to prosecutors.
The Players and the Charges
Burke’s legal troubles began with an extortion charge in early 2019, but a grand jury later indicted him on 14 counts, roping in co-defendants Charles Cui and Peter Andrews. Cui, a real estate developer and attorney, is accused of bribing Burke for assistance with a sign permit, while Andrews, a ward office worker, is alleged to have aided Burke in extorting a fast-food restaurant owner.
All three defendants have maintained their innocence, pleading not guilty to the charges.
Chicago Alderman’s Trial Postponed : Legal Lineup
The legal battlefield is marked by a formidable lineup. The government is represented by a team from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, including Amarjeet Bhachu, Diane MacArthur, Sarah Streicker, Julia Schwartz, Kurt Siegal, Michelle Kramer, Sushma Raju, and Timothy Chapman.
