Ex-Alderman Ed Burke's federal corruption trial begins Monday with jury selection

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Fifty three jurors are being questioned as jury selection in the trial against former Alderman Ed Burke and two other defendants got underway Monday.

Burke left his home on the Southwest Side before 7 a.m. and walked into the Dirksen Federal Building before 9 a.m.

Burke faces racketeering and corruption charges for allegedly shaking down real estate developers in exchange for legal work.

SEE ALSO | Ex-Ald. Ed Burke's wiretap comments about Jewish lawyers can be heard at corruption trial: judge

It's alleged Burke used his influence as the powerful chairman of the city's finance committee to steer business to his private tax law firm. He's accused of shaking down a Burger King in his ward and the developer of the Old Post Office.

The star witness of the case are Burke's own words. Jurors will hear recordings from conversations he had with former friend and colleague Ald. Danny Solis. The former 25th ward Alderman wore a wire for two years.

Burke was Chicago's longest serving alderman, he represented the city's 14th Ward from 1969 until earlier this year, when he decided not to seek re-election.

SEE ALSO | Federal case against Alderman Ed Burke includes thousands of recorded phone calls

"Ultimately in the end, these tapes are going to have the potential to be extremely damaging," said Former Assistant US Attorney Nancy DePodesta.

DePodesta said the tapes will be very challenging for the defense to overcome.

"He had the power in the form of not just the committee he ran, but the information he aggregated over many, many years," she said.

Also on trial with Burke are his longtime political associate Peter Andrews, and developer Charles Cui. All three have pled not guilty.

The start of this trial comes nearly five years after the FBI raided his City Hall and Ward offices.

Jury selection began at 9 a.m. The trial is expected to last six weeks.