Judge rejects motions from Burke and co-defendants, says evidence should be considered at trial

Ald. Edward M. Burke at a City Council meeting in March. (Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times file)

Dealing a crucial blow to Chicago Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th) and his legal team, a federal judge Monday rejected hundreds of pages of defense motions in the once-powerful politician’s criminal case, finally clearing the way for a potential trial.

U.S. District Judge Robert Dow wrote that the combined motions from Burke, political aide Peter Andrews and developer Charles Cui “would have this court dismiss almost every charge of the indictment against all defendants.”