Jonnynonos +1000..when The Outfit had the 1st Ward their power and influence at the city and county level was almighty. They had the ability to get Mayor Byrne to fire a police chief. They appointed judges at the County level. They decided which judges got which cases. The influenced city and county contracts and jobs it was unreal.
I agree! It was shocking. I realize he is not a favorite in most parts but did you read Cooley's book? It's pretty amazing hearing him talking how he would go to court and basically start every day by paying dozens of off.
You can understand how it happened though... cops don't make a ton of money, neither do local judges etc. Some extra cash goes a long way, and you can see how they could justify it by saying "They only hurt each other etc."
Of course that was just the tip of the iceberg.
One thing people don't know, M. Daley actually started his career as a state's attorney prosecuting Spilotro.
