Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot called on longtime Ald. Edward Burke to resign after a federal indictment Thursday charged the longtime politician with racketeering, bribery and other misdeeds.
In an interview with the Tribune, Lightfoot said Burke has to resign. In her opinion as a former federal prosecutor, Lightfoot said, it’s a strong case built on recordings and a cooperating witness.
“He used the levers of government (to enrich himself),” Lightfoot said. “As you can see in reading the indictment, he was essentially calling up and muscling commissioners, line people and everything in between to get his way in order to ingratiate himself with a potential paying client for his legal business.”
Among other things, the 14-count indictment accused the powerful Democrat of abusing his power for personal gain.
Burke has denied wrongdoing.
Lightfoot said Burke’s alleged misconduct shows why reforms to how the City Council does business need to happen.
“This is why no one should be able to amass this kind of power and this is why aldermanic power is so corrosive and corrupting,” Lightfoot said.
The mayor said she has personally told the U.S. attorney that it’s “absolutely unacceptable” for prosecutors to hold information about sitting elected officials. She said the indictment shows conduct that’s years old.
If prosecutors have evidence of crimes committed by other aldermen, Lightfoot said, they should bring charges.
“This cloud of uncertainty and rumor and innuendo undermines the integrity of government,” she said. “If they have charges, bring them. If not, then we need to move forward.”
Asked whether the indictment strengthens her hand politically, Lightfoot said, “The view of the public is not necessarily the view of the City Council, but I think the City Council has to take heed. They have to take heed of the great desire all across the city for change and they have to understand that business as usual cannot continue.”
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