Afternoon Briefing: Ed Burke corruption trial set to feature another former alderman on witness stand
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Good afternoon, Chicago.
Former Ald. Daniel Solis, whose unprecedented turn as an FBI mole helped the feds take down two princes of Chicago’s Democratic political machine, is expected to be called as a defense witness next week in the corruption trial of his former colleague, ex-Ald. Ed Burke.
The undercover recordings made by Solis have been the centerpiece of Burke’s ongoing trial, but Solis himself has been something of an enigma. Prosecutors opted not to call Solis as their own witness, and while Burke’s lawyers promised the judge they’d call him, it was not mentioned to the jury in opening statements.
During a scheduling discussion today before testimony began, however, Burke attorney Chris Gair told U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall that Solis would be called as soon as Tuesday, although they may have to work around a funeral that Solis has to attend.
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