Thread by @kschorsch

HEADS UP >> All eyes on powerful Ald. Ed Burke today on heels of the FBI raiding his offices 👇👇👇@WBEZ @DenverManuel #politics

https://twitter.com/dmihalopoulos/status/1080885858696392704

#FBI raided Burke's offices in November, 3 months shy of #Chicago elections. Burke has been alderman for 50 years. He controls the $$ at City Hall (AKA: chair of the @ChiCouncil Finance Committee), via @WBEZ's @dmihalopoulos @claudiamorell @beckyvevea >> tinyurl.com/ycbjunke

Important background: Burke's private/public lives are so intertwined he's recused himself from hundreds of @ChiCouncil votes that have sent $$$ in benefits to his private clients, via @dmihalopoulos @WBEZ & @DavidKidwell1 @phjudge @BetterGov >> tinyurl.com/y79292bp

.@WBEZ's @beckyvevea is headed to the federal courthouse now. Stay tuned for details ... #politics #CookCounty

BREAKING: Burke charged w/attempted extortion for allegedly trying to use his powerful City Council seat to solicit biz for his private law firm, per @SeidelContent @mitchdudek >> tinyurl.com/y7vbpor4

So. Many. Layers. to the Ald. Ed Burke indictment. Some highlights ...
* Burke was allegedly extorting restaurant chain execs (@pksmid thinks it's Burger King 👑) via feds monitoring his cell phone and emails. Also emails of his ward office staffers and city workers. @WBEZ

* Burke allegedly held up restaurant renovations over driveway permits. Project architect worked in #Chicago for years, says a thumbs up from aldermen on driveway permits wasn't required. @WBEZ

* What did Burke really want? This giant restaurant chain's tax business, they claim. Burke is a property tax attorney when he's not ruling @ChiCouncil. @WBEZmorning

* Burke & the restaurant chain execs dined at the Beverly Country Club (located in a #Chicago neighborhood filled w/city workers) to discuss biz.

* Staffers in Burke's ward office allegedly conducted government business via a personal #AOL email address.

* This was Burke's personal #AOL account. @ChicagosMayor has been sued for using private email to conduct city business. @BetterGov @chicagotribune

* After Burke allegedly suggested the restaurant execs attend a fundraiser for another politician, they didn't attend (bad weather apparently), but donated $10,000 to that person's campaign. (later reduced b/c of contribution limits)

* In the end, the remodeling job is done -- and Burke didn't get the restaurant chain's tax biz.

Burke is due in court at 3 p.m. @WBEZ's @beckyvevea is there -- Follow her for updates, and stay tuned to #WBEZ/91.5FM & wbez.org for more details.