Chicago Alderman Edward Burke: Today’s “Public Official Misfit” Award Winner

The state of Illinois presented Edward Burke with a law license in 1968 after he graduated from DePaul University School of Law.

Eddie has had his significant snout firmly implanted in the public trough for the past fifty-years (ca. 1969 thru 2019) as a Alderman for the City of Chicago. He also supplemented his income practicing law with the firm of Klafter & Burke.

In early January 2019, Eddie was criminally charged in a federal complaint for attempted extortion for allegedly soliciting business for his law firm from a fast-food company seeking a remodeling permit. (Debra Cassens Weiss)

FBI agents raided Eddie’s city hall and ward offices Nov. 29, 2019, the same day that his wife, Anne Burke, was sworn in to a second 10-year term as an Illinois Supreme Court justice.

The restaurant company was identified only as “Company A” in the complaint. The Sun-Times, however, said the company was Burger King.

According to recorded phone calls and emails, Burger King’s request for a remodeling permit involved one of it’s restaurant’s located in Eddie’s ward. Eddie is accused of causing a work stoppage for at least two months during the remodeling effort after he complained that he had never signed off on a driveway permit.

Eddie solicited business for his law firm from Burger King during a meeting at a country club before the remodeling project began. He then decided to pay hard ball when Burger King did not deliver the legal business to his law firm.

It shouldn’t be long before Eddie cops a plea in order to limit the amount of time he spends in prison.

As we speak (ca. February 2019), Eddie the Scammer continues to sit as a Chicago Alderman. In addition, he continues to practice law with Klafter & Burke at 225 West Washington Street in Chicago, Illinois.