THE ILLINOIZE: Ed Burke roundup...House appointments

Do they make double breasted prison jumpsuits?

Props as always to our friends Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune and Jon Seidel of the Chicago Sun-Times for covering these trials like none other.

Ex-Ald. Ed Burke convicted on 13 of 14 counts at landmark federal corruption trial; jury convicts one co-defendant and acquits the other (Chicago Tribune)

Seven weeks ago, officials at Chicago’s federal courthouse used brown butcher paper to cover up large hallway displays highlighting infamous political corruption cases, featuring names like Walker, Ryan, Blagojevich and Vrdolyak.

On Thursday, a federal jury added another name to that inglorious roster: Edward M. Burke.

In a verdict that will reverberate through city politics, Burke was convicted of racketeering conspiracy and a dozen other counts for using the clout of his elected office to try to win private law business from developers.

The nearly clean sweep of guilty verdicts capped a stunning fall for Burke, the former head of the city Finance Committee and a Democratic political machine master who served a record 54 years in the City Council before stepping down in May.

The jury of nine women and three men deliberated for about 23 hours over four days before reaching its verdict on the 19-count indictment.

In addition to racketeering, Burke also was found guilty of federal program bribery, attempted extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion and using interstate commerce to facilitate an unlawful activity.

The racketeering charge alone carries up to 20 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall set sentencing for June.

Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual told reporters after the verdict that Burke’s actions were a clear betrayal of the public trust.

“In this case, defendant Burke had his hand out for money,” Pasqual said. “The public voted Mr. Burke into office. And they trusted that he would be guided by and motivated by pursuing the common good. He betrayed that trust.”

Related: Ed Burke ‘had his hand out for money.’ Powerful politician convicted of extortion, bribery in historic verdict (Chicago Sun-Times)

Ed Burke’s conviction ‘sad’ and ‘a tragedy,’ City Council colleagues say (Chicago Sun-Times)

Editorial: For Ed Burke, the tuna turns rotten (Chicago Tribune)

Opinion: Ed Burke’s unwelcome birthday present (Chicago Sun-Times)

The feds bagged Ed Burke, but does it change anything? (Crain’s Chicago Business)

HOUSE APPOINTMENTS

House Republicans have filled their two open seats. Nicole La Ha Zwiercan, a former Homer Glen trustee and former Mrs. America, was appointed to replace Rep. John Egofske, who resigned nine months after replacing former House GOP Leader Jim Durkin. She is the GOP candidate for the seat next year.

Former Marine Brandun Schweizer was appointed to replace former Rep. Mike Marron in the Champaign/Danville area seat. Schweizer is the brother-in-law of Danville Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr. The House GOP avoided a primary here after saying publicly (including to us) that they were staying out of the race, they pushed Marron aide Marguerite Bailey out of the race. She ended up not filing. Marron resigned to become President & CEO of a Danville-area economic development agency.

That’s it. Go play the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack and drink a mulled wine. Merry Christmas, everyone.