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CHICAGO — The new mayor of Chicago, who has promised to rid City Hall of corruption, said Friday that her office would be sending a letter to a longtime alderman asking him to step down amid federal charges.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot's comments followed her request Thursday for Alderman Edward M. Burke to resign. She questions whether the 50-year veteran of the City Council, one of the most powerful and longest-serving aldermen in Chicago's history, can effectively represent his ward while under indictment on racketeering and other charges.

"No one can serve with integrity and deliver to his constituents with these types of allegations hovering over him," Lightfoot said at a news conference Friday. "We have got to set the standard, which is why I believe it's important for Alderman Burke to resign. We will be sending him a letter ... to memorialize that request."

Burke, 75, was charged Thursday with racketeering, bribery and attempted extortion. He is accused of trying to shake down the developer of a vacant post office and threatening to oppose a Chicago museum's admission fee increase because it didn't respond to his inquiry about an internship for a friend's child.