Ex-Chicago Ald. Ed Burke seeks commutation from Trump for corruption sentence

Former Chicago Alderman Edward Burke has filed a clemency petition with the Office of the Pardon Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, asking President Trump to commute his two-year prison sentence for corruption charges. Burke, 81, was convicted on 13 counts, including racketeering and bribery, in December 2023 and began serving his sentence at FCI Thomson in Illinois. His petition comes amidst over 5,000 pending clemency requests, highlighting his past connections with Trump, for whom he performed legal work, as a potential influence on the decision. Burke's legal strategy previously excluded mention of his ties to Trump in court, fearing prejudice, yet he now seeks support from Trump, who has shown willingness to grant clemency in controversial cases. Burke's case is pending review, and if granted, it could shorten his sentence, currently set to end in 2026, with a subsequent year of court supervision and financial penalties. The outcome remains uncertain, given Trump's past clemency decisions, but Burke's age and health might play a role in the consideration.