Donald Trump’s week has escalated into a full-fledged crisis for his administration and his family. There are now numerous investigations into Trump other than Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into the alleged collusion with Russian government operatives and the 2016 Trump presidential campaign.
Those investigations include Trump’s business, his family, his inauguration fund, and his campaign’s donations.
JUST IN: Federal agents returned to the City Hall offices of Ald. Ed Burke, two weeks after they carried out unprecedented raids on the longtime alderman’s Downtown and ward offices, @fspielman reports. https://t.co/tcqcdZKsgz
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) December 14, 2018
According to a local CBS News affiliate in Chicago:
‘The exact reason for the raids is still unknown. In addition to serving as an alderman, Edward Burke is also an attorney, specializing in property tax assessments. Representatives for his law firm said they didn’t know anything about what was happening at Burke’s aldermanic offices. Burke’s law firm has represented President Donald Trump for years, helping him challenge his property tax assessments for Trump Tower. However, Burke stopped representing Trump earlier this year, citing “irreconcilable differences,” according to published reports.’
"It is important for people who care about accountability and transparency in government to speak up," Lightfoot said. "Every other major candidate for mayor is ducking for cover because, frankly, they’ve been bought and paid for by their relationships with Ed Burke and others." https://t.co/XU62TJtLlt
— Lori Lightfoot (@LightfootForChi) December 5, 2018
The raid comes just two weeks after Ed Burke’s office was first raided by the FBI, which means the investigators obtained a second warrant. Likely, the investigators found enough information during the first raid to warrant a second.
‘During the first raid, a number of computer hard drives, several boxes stacked on top of one another, and at least one computer monitor were among the items removed raid by a half dozen law enforcement agents from the back door of Ald. Ed Burke’s 14th Ward office.’
Throw Back Thursday? Feds making Thursday raids of Ed Burke's office a thing. @fspielman and @mitchtrout report. https://t.co/KmYzNYAaRq
— Scott Fornek (@sfornek) December 14, 2018
The raid was fairly extensive. In addition to his computer and office files, Burke’s cell phone was also seized.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that:
‘Chicago’s most powerful alderman, Edward M. Burke, had his cell phone seized by federal agents who raided his government and political offices late last month, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.
‘It’s unclear why the FBI seized the phone or where it was when they took it.
EXCLUSIVE: Former Aviation Commissioner Ginger Evans is alleging that Ald. Ed Burke exerted pressure behind the scenes to help businesses with city airport business, @fspielman and @RobertHerguth report.https://t.co/ZlW7cH3ggP
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) December 13, 2018
While sources insist that the raid is unrelated to the president, no official in the FBI has confirmed this, and what the raids will turn up may have long-lasting consequences for Trump.
Burke could not be reached for comment after the second raid, he did give a statement to the press after the first.
‘As you are aware, there have previously been several other investigations such as this. In every instance we cooperated fully. And in every instance nothing has been found…So once again we will be cooperating fully and I am completely confident that at the end of the day nothing will be found amiss in this instance either.’
Featured image via Flickr by Gage Skidmore under a Creative Commons license
