Former Chicago alderperson Ed Burke today was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $2 million for his conviction on 13 charges, including racketeering, conspiracy, extortion and bribery. The sentence is a relatively light one, sparing Burke the lengthy prison stay of up to 12 ½ years requested by federal prosecutors.
Federal sentencing guidelines, which are not mandatory, called for between 78 and 97 months, based on the financial cost of his crimes, according to presiding judge Virginia Kendall. The defense had requested between four and five years in prison.
In response to the sentencing, Better Government Association President David Greising stated, “Today’s light sentence calls into question the principle of equality before the law. Despite Ed Burke’s betrayal of public trust, the powerful and connected of Chicago lined up to plead for leniency. Judge Kendall herself said she was influenced by this. But to those who believe in accountable government, it was a disappointing spectacle, putting personal allegiance ahead of the public interest, and should have had little weight on imposing a just sentence. ”
Numerous high-profile political figures wrote letters to the court requesting a lenient sentence, including former and current alderpersons. “Ed Burke was convicted for gross abuses of public trust while serving as one of Chicago’s most powerful alderpeople,” said Greising. “The sentence indicates the vestiges of that power persist.”
The Better Government Association’s policy team has advocated for banning lobbyist contributions to city elections and an end to the use of so-called “aldermanic prerogative” to block zoning changes in an alderperson’s ward. The organization also supports a long-stalled ethics ordinance update that the mayor’s administration has refused to support.
Greising called on City Council to make a statement by quickly approving reforms as a signal of their intent to clean up city government. “City Council has an opportunity to show that abuses of power like Ed Burke’s will no longer be tolerated in their body,” said Greising. “With or without the mayor’s support, the council should move forward on ethics reform.”
The Better Government Association is a 99-year-old civic watchdog that seeks better government through investigative journalism, policy reforms and civic engagement efforts that lead to more open, equitable and accountable government. The policy team and investigative unit operate independently of one another, while both seek to advance the cause of better government in Chicago and across Illinois.
