Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson and former Ald. Michael R. Zalewski sponsored six resolutions that benefited clients of Burke’s law firm. The moves allowed the now-indicted alderman to skirt city conflict-of-interest rules.
Chuck Neubauer
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Ald. Ed Burke’s Wave of Ward Projects Boosted His Legal Practice, Powered His Re-election
Burke touted development deals for his 14th Ward in winning a February re-election despite the cloud of federal corruption charges. A BGA investigation found Burke’s law firm had financial ties to most of those deals.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Taxpayers Covered Millions in Gym Costs Jesse White Promised to Pay
Illinois’ Secretary of State said he would raise most of the funds needed to build a new Chicago home for his Tumblers gymnastics team. He didn’t, but taxpayers did.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
A Manafort Lender’s Emanuel Ties
Chicago’s mayor spent millions in city taxpayer funds to aid expansion of the same West Loop bank prosecutors now say made $16 million in questionable loans to a former Trump campaign chairman now on trial for alleged tax and bank fraud.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Berrios Firm’s Lobbying Client Gets Big Tax Break From His Assessor’s Office
BGA investigation reveals how tobacco giant Altria saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in property taxes courtesy of the Cook County Assessor’s office run by Joseph Berrios, who co-owns a lobbying business hired by the firm to represent its interests.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Pritzker’s Storied Charity Costs Him Little But Taxpayers A Lot
The wealthy governor candidate campaigns on his philanthropy, but records show most of his donated proceeds have first been filtered through offshore tax havens and a tax-exempt foundation.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Bobby Rush’s Englewood Church A Million-Dollar Problem
U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush has been ordered to pay $1.1 million on a delinquent bank loan made to his now-shuttered church, the latest setback for the longtime congressman-turned-pastor who once promised his house of worship would help rebuild Englewood.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Chris Kennedy Slams Same Property Tax System He Used To Get Big Break
Chris Kennedy, a top Democratic contender for governor, relied on a politically connected tax lawyer to dramatically reduce property tax bills on land he was prepping for development. It appears to mirror the sort of activity Kennedy has been condemning on the campaign trail.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Legislators Collect Paycheck From Washington, Pension From Illinois
Three members of Congress – Peter Roskam, Mike Bost and Jan Schakowsky – collect pensions from their time in Springfield; Cheri Bustos’ husband earns a public salary greater than $100,000 while cashing a $67,000 pension. It’s perfectly legal, but is it good government?
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
How Illinois Lawmakers Have Gamed Their Pensions
Even Barack Obama could benefit from lucrative retirement perks state legislators have carved out for themselves.