In a surprising twist in Chicago's political saga, letters backing Ed Burke, the city's disgraced former alderman, have been unsealed and revealed to the public. Convicted of corruption, the 80-year-old Burke received a mix of support and condemnation in a series of correspondences that might impact his sentencing in June. As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, former mayoral candidate Paul Vallas expressed his belief that despite Burke's wrongdoings, the ex-alderman is "worthy of whatever leniency you see fit to provide."

Vallas, who lost to Mayor Brandon Johnson in last year's election, to make his case, spent three pages detailing his professional relationship with Burke, whom he met in 1992 during Richard M. Daley's mayoral tenure. He praised Burke's unwavering support while he navigated the treacherous political environment of Chicago. "I honestly cannot recall a single time that he ever questioned my judgment," Vallas told U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall, according to a statement obtained by the Chicago Tribune.

However, not all letters lauded Burke's history. A more critical view came from city resident Jim FitzGerald, who opined, "Ed Burke didn’t leave one victim bleeding; he bled out an entire city for half a century." In a potent message, FitzGerald urged that Burke deserves a sentence that reflects his actions, rather than a lenient stint in "Club Fed."

The release of the letters was propelled by media pressure, with the Sun-Times and WBEZ pushing for transparency under the First Amendment. The public's right to scrutinize was argued to be especially pertinent given the figures involved potentially include public officials. Kendall eventually decided to unseal the letters, already to have deemed sensitive information redacted, revealing insights into how various individuals perceived Burke's impact on Chicago. Burke's lawyer, Robin Waters, stated that a broader compilation of letters, mainly unredacted, will be submitted to the court for review, as reported by the Chicago Tribune.