Jason Meisner

Jason Meisner has covered the federal courts beat since 2013, writing about political corruption, terrorism and gang racketeering. In 2018, he was part of the Tribune's award-winning team covering the historic murder trial of Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke.

Former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s longtime chief of staff is now a federal inmate, the highest-ranking associate of America’s longest-serving speaker to go to prison -- so far.

Crime and Public Safety |
Tim Mapes, former Madigan chief of staff, reports to federal prison

June 12, 2024 at 3:19 p.m.

Former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s longtime chief of staff is now a federal inmate, the highest-ranking associate of America’s longest-serving speaker to go to prison -- so far.

U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber, the Joliet native who served in the Illinois legislature before being nominated to the federal bench by President Ronald Reagan, has died at the age of 87, according to his family.

News Obituaries |
‘He got everything out of his life’: US District Judge Harry Leinenweber dies at 87

June 12, 2024 at 5:23 p.m.

U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber, the Joliet native who served in the Illinois legislature before being nominated to the federal bench by President Ronald Reagan, has died at the age...

A flood of letters made public this week reinforced what nearly everyone in Chicago already knows: Ed Burke was an extremely powerful man.

Crime and Public Safety |
Dozens of supporters hail convicted ex-Ald. Ed Burke as devoted public servant

June 11, 2024 at 4:20 p.m.

A flood of letters made public this week reinforced what nearly everyone in Chicago already knows: Ed Burke was an extremely powerful man.

Federal prosecutors are asking for 10 years in prison for former Chicago Ald. Edward Burke, arguing in a lengthy filing late Monday that the 80-year-old Democratic machine stalwart was "steeped in corruption."

Crime and Public Safety |
Feds say ex-Ald. Ed Burke used his power on ‘dark path’ of corruption, seek 10 years in prison

June 11, 2024 at 4:52 p.m.

Federal prosecutors are asking for 10 years in prison for former Chicago Ald. Edward Burke, arguing in a lengthy filing late Monday that the 80-year-old Democratic machine stalwart was "steeped...

Crime and Public Safety |
Chicago-area man charged in $60 million COVID-19 fraud scheme that ordered test kits for dead people

June 8, 2024 at 10:16 a.m.

A suburban Chicago man has been charged in a $60 million COVID-19 fraud scheme that billed Medicare for millions of at-home test kits over a two-month period last year, including...

Crime and Public Safety |
Federal racketeering charges accuse two reputed gang members with slaying of National Guardsman

June 7, 2024 at 4:06 p.m.

Weeks after a high-profile FBI raid on a quiet Lincoln Square street, federal racketeering charges have been unsealed accusing two gang members in the 2021 drive-by slaying of a teenage...

Talks are still ongoing but the city, which has tried to move protests to Grant Park, says they now have enough information to propose a "United Center-adjacent route."

Politics |
City poised to offer DNC protesters route near United Center

June 6, 2024 at 6:12 p.m.

Talks are still ongoing but the city, which has tried to move protests to Grant Park, says they now have enough information to propose a "United Center-adjacent route."

Six months after ex-Chicago Ald. Edward Burke's landmark corruption conviction, his lawyers were back in court Wednesday in a long-shot bid for a retrial on some counts and an outright acquittal on others.

Crime and Public Safety |
Lawyers for ex-Ald. Ed Burke argue ‘no reasonable jury’ could convict him in corruption case

June 6, 2024 at 3:20 p.m.

Six months after ex-Chicago Ald. Edward Burke's landmark corruption conviction, his lawyers were back in court Wednesday in a long-shot bid for a retrial on some counts and an outright...

A southwest suburban man pleaded guilty Monday to dousing police with hornet spray and used a baton to break out windows during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Crime and Public Safety |
Burbank man pleads guilty to dousing police officers with hornet spray during Jan. 6 US Capitol attack

June 5, 2024 at 3:04 p.m.

A southwest suburban man pleaded guilty Monday to dousing police with hornet spray and used a baton to break out windows during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

A North Side man has been charged with participating in a scheme to fraudulently bill $6.2 million to Medicare in just over a month for COVID-19 tests that were never performed.

Crime and Public Safety |
Chicago man charged in scheme to bill $6.2 million to Medicare in one month for COVID tests never performed

May 31, 2024 at 2:43 p.m.

A North Side man has been charged with participating in a scheme to fraudulently bill $6.2 million to Medicare in just over a month for COVID-19 tests that were never...

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