How much info would the attorney general know about this? I don’t know how this all works, but would they have had to let him know? Burke is no saint so this could have gotten past Whitaker but I’m curious if he knew about this or not. Going after a Chicago alderman is a pretty big move and for someone as big as Burke they must have a pretty good amount of evidence to even execute this search and shut his offices down today.
One would think if this was some big roll up of Chicago crime or political crime, that the DOJ would make a bigger deal or announcement about what happened today in terms of some bigger picture. I’m inclined to believe that he is the small fish here and that this is part of something bigger.
We’re all small fish in Trumplandia, get used to it. 
Shit really starting to hit the fan today. I think Donald’s going to have brown hair when he gets back!
Agents arrived at Ed Burke’s aldermanic office Thursday morning, told staff to leave, and pulled brown paper across its glass doors blocking the view. Media photographs showed similar paper across the door of Burke’s Southwest Side ward office.
Mr. McGuire: “I just want to say two words to you. Just…two words.”
Benjamin: “Yes, sir.”
Mr. McGuire: “Are you listening?”
Benjamin: “Yes, I am.”
Mr. McGuire: “Brown Paper.”
Hmmm.
Trump’s Chicago tax attorney’s office is raided, for unknown reasons.
Deutsche Bank (the only bank that would lend to Trump) is raided, supposedly for money-laundering a la the Panama Papers.
Cohen makes a surprise visit to plead guilty to lying about Trump-Russia.
My, what could be going on here?
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
White House Begins Christmas Season With Ceremonial Lighting Of Cross
(Onion)
Or maybe none, as it will all have fallen out…
Plus, let’s not forget, Manafort formally accused of lying to Mueller’s team.
The Schadenfreude just doesn’t stop today.
I guess all of those red trees are code for “bloody Thursday”.
Donald of Orange is having a very bad day.
Who’d’ve thought Melanoma was so prescient?
This guy is, according to people who know the situation, as crooked as a dog’s hind leg. I had to chuckle at the “no public bathroom” sign—when those agents came in I imagine a lot of people were just using their pants.
Oh, man, do I miss Mike Royko right now. This is right in his wheelhouse, a crooked Chicago alderman.
Christmas is coming early? Or more likely, Hanukkah. I’m fine with that.
From my boyo, and ex-roommate in Chi-Town regarding, for what it’s worth. (Edited as from personal text)
*Yup. But I’m fairly sure it isn’t about trump.
*Burke is known as the Grey Fox. Ex cop turned lawyer turned city councilman
*His tax law business is legendary. If he does your commercial property tax appeal, you will win
Me: why not Trump related?
*Because Burke and Madigan (State speaker of the house) have pissed off the outgoing governor who used to be friends. Pretty sure someone dropped a dime on their illegal deals. Burke’s wife is also in the state Supreme Court.
*If it isn’t tax appeal fixing it has to do with city contracts or a police cover up. Jury tampering etc.
*I could be wrong, but I think the Trump part was just to get attention.
*I know Trumps an easy target, but Burke has been a fixer for a long time. OTOH, it was the Feds who raided his offices
The feds would come in for jury tampering? City contracts? Police cover up? Cover the windows with brown paper?
All right after Trump submitted his written testimony and put himself at risk of perjury.
I’m convinced that’s what Mueller was waiting for.
Was he not known as Fast Eddie? (My Chicago days were decades ago an in Lake not Cook County)
Regardless of whether this has anything to do with Spankee or not (but interesting coincidence if not), I can still imagine Spankee wondering whether something damaging to him might be hanging around in dusty old files somewhere. If that gives him nightmares, that makes me happy.