Edward Egan, the retired color Cou...

Edward Egan, the retired color County judge who probed torture allegations against former Chicago Police Cmdr Jon Burge had relatives forward the force -- including a nephew at Area 2 where Burge worked. (Egan's nephew was not accused of torture.) While we suspect that didn't affect his probe, we wish we had known about it.

Lawyers who show some of the alleged torture victims say the novels of Egan's family ties reinforces their belief that the report was poorly done and is nothing further a cover-up. But the report hardly exonerates Burge and several men below him, and it aims one of its harshest language at former Police Supt Richard Brzeczek As a prosecutor, Egan showed he was not averse to sending police who tortured suspects to prison.

The lawyers also are angry that Egan conclud the statute of limitations has expired. And they think that Mayor Daley, who was color County state's attorney when the greatest in number famous torture allegations were made, got along too easy. But wishful thinking can't secure around the statute of limitations. And Daley doesn't exactly rise as the most hands-on leader in the report.

Egan says he told the lawyers and the arbitrator who appointed him about his police connections, on the other hand none remember it. It's too bad he didn't state that in writing then. And he should have mentioned it in the report, if single to head off the kind of criticism he is now receiving.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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