Federal agents raided the Chicago office of a lawyer who once worked on President Donald Trump’s property taxes.
The agents arrived unannounced at the City Hall office of Finance Committee Chairman Ed Burke Thursday, kicking out anyone who was inside and placing brown paper over the windows and doors, according to the Chicago Sun Times.
Source says feds showed up this am, asked everyone to leave and put brown paper on the doors. pic.twitter.com/4qJBwzoKF4
— Fran Spielman (@fspielman) November 29, 2018
Federal agents reportedly did the same at Burke’s ward office.
Eight more federal agents just arrived at Burke’s ward office. pic.twitter.com/GR8pCOA0Ga
— Mark Brown (@MarkBrownCST) November 29, 2018
Burke’s law firm of Klafter & Burke had worked with Trump’s companies for a dozen years to reduce property taxes on his Chicago skyscraper, saving more than $14 million, according to The Hill. The two reportedly went their separate ways earlier this year with Burke citing “irreconcilable differences.”
The raid on Burke’s Chicago office came as Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty Thursday to making false statements to Congress.
A triple punch of perceived negative news seemed to delight the left, despite the fact that Cohen’s plea is already looking like another nothing-burger.
?MAJOR bombshells today (and it’s only 1pm):
??Michael Cohen pleads GUILTY to lying about Trump Tower??Moscow and is COOPERATING
??FBI raids @Trump Org’s outside counsel (Chicago Alderman Ed Burke)
??#DeutscheBank (Trump’s main lender) raided by 170 cops this morning— Dr. Dena Grayson (@DrDenaGrayson) November 29, 2018
Though it was not yet clear what agents were doing at Burke’s offices, the Chicago Sun Times noted the Democratic alderman of the 14th Ward “has dodged dozens of federal investigations over five decades in Chicago politics.”
I’m at alderman Ed Burke’s City Hall office where feds reportedly raided this am and appeared to have covered the office with paper. Burke recently cut ties with Trump after working closely for 12 yrs and helped to cut property taxes on his Chicago Trump tower by more than 14 mil pic.twitter.com/uixxPgacWq
— Tanya Chen (@Tanya_Chen) November 29, 2018
Federal agents showed up unannounced at the Chicago City Hall office of Ed Burke, kicked everyone out and papered over windows, according to the Sun-Times.
Burke has apparently been Trump’s lawyer on reducing his property taxes in Chicago.https://t.co/T2Q2qOzBN4
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) November 29, 2018
People are rightfully pointing out that the suspiciously timed Burke raid is not known to be tied to his dealings with Trump
it could also be tied to his many other corrupted dealings in his political career
you are right and what a defense lol
— Tanya Chen (@Tanya_Chen) November 29, 2018
According to the Sun Times:
About 15 agents had arrived at City Hall about 7:30 a.m., bringing their own boxes. Some then went across the street to the underground parking garage at the Daley Center to find Burke’s car, but it wasn’t there.
Federal agents also showed up to Burke’s ward office and papered over the windows there. A group of them left about 1:10 p.m., nothing in hand, but others remained inside.
A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office declined to comment. Calls to the FBI office in Chicago and the IRS criminal investigations division were not immediately returned.
A reporter knocked on the City Hall office door Thursday morning; the man who answered, who was not a member of Burke’s office staff, had no comment.
Burke’s brother, state Rep. Dan Burke, was reportedly “stunned” by the news, telling the Sun Times, “It’s shocking. I don’t know what to think.”
“I don’t have a clue. Any time there is this type of thing, where they come in and paper your windows, certainly that’s a concern,” the lawmaker said from his state capitol office in Springfield. “But I know my brother. For his entire life and career he’s been abiding by the law.”
Howard Brookins, the alderman of the 21st Ward, was swarmed by reporters as he arrived at the office.
Brookins, also a Democrat, said he had “no idea” why federal agents had visited and called Burke a “great friend.”
Reporters waited outside the office to get any information on Burke who has held office since 1969 and was running for a record 14th term.
Reporters have gathered outside the City Hall office of Ald. Ed Burke (14th), where federal agents showed up unannounced this morning and brown paper covers the windows. @fspielman reports: https://t.co/nq9UrA5mZz pic.twitter.com/Idml3rDS1v
— Ashlee Rezin (@Ashlee_Rezin) November 29, 2018
Not much else is known atm but the Big Mood at Chicago City Hall is ? https://t.co/mMsXGRs3N6
— Tanya Chen (@Tanya_Chen) November 29, 2018
Eight people just walked out of Burke’s ward office, though only one is particularly well-dressed. Everyone else is in plainclothes tho seven left in SUVs with tinted windows pic.twitter.com/laF1vetM71
— Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) November 29, 2018
Gregory Pratt, City Hall reporter for the Chicago Tribune, reported later Thursday that agents left carrying what appeared to be computers and that the paper was being taken down.
Big group of suit-wearers just left Burke’s ward office pic.twitter.com/H1wUSswB1C
— Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) November 29, 2018
They’re pulling down the paper from the windows now.
— Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) November 29, 2018
Agents in suits just left the back of Burke’s ward office carrying at least three monitors, what looks like a computer, and two boxes @chicagotribune
— Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) November 29, 2018
I’m guessing the monitors are iPad-like devices because why take screens but who knows.
— Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) November 29, 2018
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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