Chicago, Illinois corruption trials

Former Ald. Ed Burkę enters the Dirksen Federal Courthouse Monday for the start of his corruption trial.

Ed Burke, ‘figurehead of the old regime,’ faces historic corruption trial

The stage has been set for another legal clash at the Dirksen courthouse. But it’s unclear whether another central political figure, former Chicago Ald. Danny Solis, will make an appearance in the courtroom.

By Jon Seidel

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich (left), businessman James T. Weiss (center) and former Gov. George Ryan are among those convicted in political corruption scandals in Illinois.

Democracy Solutions Project

Corruption in Illinois breeds voter cynicism, but what about voter apathy?

Calculating the true cost of corruption on Illinois residents is a complicated task wrapped in contradiction. A WBEZ analysis shows people may be more cynical, government more expensive, but voter interest in state elections only increased.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ Chicago

USA v. Edward M. Burke

Edward M. Burke was the longest-serving member of Chicago’s City Council. But in 2019, a grand jury accused him of using his Council seat to steer business to his private law firm. He is charged with racketeering, bribery and conspiracy to commit extortion.

Former Ald. Danny Solis walks towards a waiting vehicle outside the Dirksen Federal Building Monday.

USA vs. Edward M. Burke

100 secret recordings, 36 witnesses later, feds winding up case against Burke — but will defense call Solis as ‘hostile’ witness?

Burke’s defense team has promised to summon former Ald. Danny Solis to the witness stand — finally giving Burke the chance to confront the man who famously turned on him while wearing an FBI wire.

By Jon Seidel and Mariah Woelfel

Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th) at a Chicago City Council meeting in September.

USA vs. Edward M. Burke

Feds play recording of call with Gery Chico as they allege Ed Burke used threats over permits ‘to extort benefits’ from businesses

Prosecutors in Burke’s corruption trial say the call in 2017 demonstrated the former alderman’s “modus operandi.”

By Jon Seidel and Mariah Woelfel

Ald. Ed Burke (14th) attends a Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall in 2022.

USA vs. Edward M. Burke

Defense: ‘Computer mistake,’ not pressure from Ed Burke, caused delays in Burger King work

City Hall bureaucracy took center stage in former Ald. Ed Burke’s corruption trial Thursday as one of the finer disputed points in the case came to a head.

By Jon Seidel and Mariah Woelfel

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Timothy Mapes served for decades as the chief of staff to then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. He was accused of perjury and attempted obstruction of justice for a bid to block the feds’ Madigan investigation. A jury found him guilty on both counts and agreed that he lied on every occasion identified by prosecutors.

Tim Mapes, who was chief of staff to indicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan leaving court after a hearing in July.

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Wife of ex-top aide to Madigan says he was ‘very sullen, very depressed ... as if he was lost’ after being sacked

Witnesses in the perjury trial of Tim Mapes have said they found his forced resignation in June 2018 to be surprising, unexpected, traumatic. But Tuesday, jurors heard Mapes’ wife describe how he handled being fired amid a #MeToo wave at the Capitol.

By Jon Seidel

Tim Mapes chief of staff Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Prosecutors rest case in perjury trial of ex-top aide to Madigan after jurors hear more secret recordings

Defense lawyers for Tim Mapes are expected to call witnesses of their own over the next day or so. They said they weren’t sure whether Mapes would take the stand in his own defense, though it seems unlikely.

By Jon Seidel

Tim Mapes, former chief of staff to Michael Madigan, exits the Dirksen Federal Building flanked by lawyers after the first day of trial for perjury and obstruction of justice charges, Monday, Aug. 7, 2023.

USA vs. Timothy Mapes

Feds nearly done laying out perjury case against ex-top aide to Michael Madigan

Jurors hear additional recordings that seemed to show the close relationship between Tim Mapes and Michael McClain.

By Jon Seidel

USA vs. James Weiss

Businessman James Weiss, son-in-law of former Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios, was accused of paying bribes to state lawmakers to advance legislation. Weiss was found guilty of wire and mail fraud, bribery, and lying to the FBI.

James T. Weiss (left) exits the Dirksen Federal Building on June 15 after being found guilty of bribing two members of the Illinois General Assembly and lying to the FBI.

USA vs. James Weiss

Businessman who bribed 2 lawmakers argues for leniency

Lawyers for James T. Weiss argued the bill he wanted to pass would have generated at least one penny in tax revenue on each transaction on so-called sweepstakes machines.

By Jon Seidel

USA vs. James Weiss

Sentencing of former state Sen. Terry Link set for October

Link’s entanglement with the feds first became known in October 2019, when the Chicago Sun-Times and other media reported he was the unnamed state senator who wore a wire against then-state Rep. Luis Arroyo. Link lied to reporters at the time and claimed it wasn’t him.

By Jon Seidel

USA vs. James Weiss

Businessman James T. Weiss guilty of bribing 2 state lawmakers, lying to the FBI

The verdict is the second in less than two months to address separate bribery schemes inside the Illinois Capitol. Weiss is a son-in-law of former Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios.

By Jon Seidel

ComEd Bribery Trial

Four power players were accused of trying to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to benefit ComEd. The four were found guilty.

ComEd bribery trial

Two ComEd defendants are stripped of their ability to practice law in Illinois

Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore contested the move to suspend her law license, but the state Supreme Court ruled against her.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ Chicago

ComEd bribery trial

Federal judge dismisses Madigan-related bribery charge against ComEd

The dismissal means ComEd no longer faces criminal charges and avoids conviction, while others have faced prison time as a result of the investigation that targeted former state House Speaker Michael Madigan.

By Jon Seidel

ComEd bribery trial

Former ComEd CEO says her bribery conviction shouldn’t lead to sanctions against her law license

Anne Pramaggiore was found guilty of bribing former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Now she’s fighting to keep her law license.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ Chicago

Chicago corruption trials

ComEd Scandal Timeline

A look at some of the key players involved in the case and the trial, and a timeline of key events leading up to it, as outlined in court records.

USA v. Alex Acevedo

Alex Acevedo, a son of former state Rep. Eddie Acevedo, went to trial on tax charges related to the investigation of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Alex Acevedo was found guilty.

25th Ward aldermanic candidate Alexander “Alex” Acevedo speaking with the Sun-Times Editorial Board last month. File Photo. | Rich Hein/Sun-Times

La Voz Chicago

Son of former state Sen. Eddie Acevedo gets 2 months for filing false tax claims

Alex Acevedo’s prison term is longer than the one-month sentence handed to his brother but shorter than the 6 months his father got. Both were also found guilty of tax violations.

By Andy Grimm

Dirksen Federal Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn St.

Politics

Son of ex-state Rep. ‘Eddie’ Acevedo goes on trial, fights tax charges tied to Madigan probe

Alex Acevedo, his brother Michael Acevedo and their father were charged with cheating on their taxes in indictments in February 2021. Edward Acevedo pleaded guilty in December 2021 to tax evasion, was sentenced to six months behind bars and was released last month.

By Jon Seidel

Crime

Son of former state Rep. Eddie Acevedo found guilty on tax charges

Alex Acevedo, his brother Michael Acevedo and their father were each charged with cheating on their taxes in separate indictments handed up in February 2021.

By Jon Seidel