Burge Pleads Not Guilty

UPDATE

Carol Marin reports that the Fraternal Order of Police is rumored to be paying for Burge's criminal defense. Burge lawyer Bill Gamboney said only "No comment" when asked.

Video of Burge arriving for his Monday hearing:

UPDATE

Jon Burge pleaded not guilty Monday on federal charges of lying about police torture. U.S. District Court Judge Joan Lefkow set a preliminary trial date of May 11.

Story continues below

advertisement

Burge, who arrived at the courthouse in "a black luxury sedan," according to the Tribune, drew about 40 protestors to federal plaza:

Representatives of the Rainbow Push Coalition carried flags and signs bearing the faces of men still in prison and blaming Burge for sending them there.

Organizers said they were pleased to see Burge finally going to court to answer for what he had done, and men who blamed him for their wrongful convictions addressed reporters.

Darrell Cannon carried a flag and said this day made him proud to be an American.

"This is an emotional day without a shadow of a doubt," Cannon said, who was imprisoned for 24 years.

It was a good day that would be getting better when he would "see that buzzard [Burge] face a judge."

--------------------
Former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge arrived at Dirksen Federal Courthouse in the Loop today for a hearing later today, the Tribune reports:

He arrived at the courthouse about 7:05 a.m. in a black luxury sedan. He pulled on a sport coat, grabbed a cane and then walked into the building.

Burge was arrested last week on perjury and obstruction of justice charges related to a civil case about whether he and officers under his command tortured suspects in police custody.

Comments

[nowalnuts]

Burge belongs in jail. If I wasn't so sick with the flu I would have joined the people outside the courthouse.