Solis Could Take Stand Against Burke

Disgraced former alderman Danny Solis could take the stand against Edward M. Burke, another ex-alderman who’s been accused of using his political power to steer business to his private law firm in various deals, including some related to commercial real estate developments.

Federal prosecutors have agreed to tell lawyers for Burke and his two co-defendants whether Solis will be called to the witness stand by Aug. 31, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Burke’s lawyers are eager to get an answer as they await their trial in November. They were hoping to get an answer by Aug. 1, but U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall called the Aug. 31 deadline a “very generous” offer that will give defense attorneys “more than enough time” to prepare, the outlet reported.

Solis, a notorious government mole who accepted bribes from various developers in exchange for personal favors, secretly recorded dozens of conversations with Burke to help federal investigators build a case against him.

Chris Gair, an attorney for Burke, explained the urgency to know if Solis will take the stand. It’s a “massive, massive task to prepare for a cross examination” of someone who was so “prolific in both getting himself recorded before he started cooperating and recording people after he started cooperating,” he told the outlet.

Solis has been charged with bribery, but charges are expected to be dropped if he continued to cooperate with the feds.

—Quinn Donoghue