14th ward Alderman Ed Burke spent $414,199 in legal fees in the final quarter of 2019, according to a state campaign finance report.
The spending comes after federal authorities charged Burke with 19 counts of corruption last year. The long-time alderman pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Burke, the longest-serving Chicago alderman, has been in office since 1969. Burke for years has been a prolific fundraiser, but for the three months ending 2019 he reported raising just $92.52 in his Friends of Edward M. Burke committee.
The legal fees were paid to three law firms and account for 86% of his reported expenditures for the quarter, according to campaign finance documents.
Burke began the quarter with over $650,000 in the account and ended with $171,559. However, he still has over $8-million in investments, according to his campaign filing.
