Field Museum Testimony Reveals Perceived Threat in Ed Burke Trial

Former Alderman Edward Burke is on trial for alleged extortion, and jurors heard testimony from a Field Museum worker who described a phone call with Burke as a perceived threat. The call took place after the museum considered a fee increase and failed to secure an internship for the daughter of a former alderman. The worker testified that Burke warned her the proposal would go nowhere if he called the president of the Park Board. The trial was briefly halted when one of the judge's therapy dogs became sick after a juror gave it a bag of treats.