by Frank James
What will the fallout be for Sen. Roland Burris from this new admission of his that the brother of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich asked Burris last October and November to make a campaign contribution to the former governor, requests Burris somehow failed to mention when he testified before an Illinois Senate committee last month?
As the Chicago Sun-Times broke today, Burris, who was appointed to the Senate by Blagojevich before the governor was impeached, convicted and forced from office, has filed an affidavit with Illinois officials acknowledging that he was indeed approached by Rob Blagojevich, the former governor's brother, for up to $10,000.
As the Sun-Times reported:
Burris -- who did not give money to the Blagojevich campaign fund in response to the previously undisclosed solicitation -- provided a copy of the sworn statement to the Chicago Sun-Times Friday in response to questions about his contacts with the Blagojevich camp about fund-raising.
Burris acknowledged having three conversations with Robert Blagojevich, who headed the Friends of Blagojevich campaign fund -- and one of those was likely recorded by the FBI.
Burris' statement offers the third version of events he has given about his discussions concerning the Senate seat, to which Blagojevich appointed him in late December, after Blagojevich was hit with federal corruption charges that included an allegation he tried to sell the Senate appointment.
Burris said he sent the new statement to House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago) after he read the transcript of his testimony before the impeachment committee she headed and realized it was incomplete. "There were several facts that I was not given the opportunity to make during my testimony," Burris said. "I voluntarily submitted an affidavit so everything was transparent."
In October and again in November, Burris spoke with Robert Blagojevich, who initially asked him to host a fund-raiser. Burris said he'd get back to him after the election, sources with knowledge of the conversations said. The two later talked again, and Burris again was asked for campaign cash.
Burris said he refused to contribute and "made it unequivocally clear ... that it would be inappropriate and pose a major conflict because I was interested in the Senate vacancy."
A source with knowledge of the exchange said there was some discussion about Burris possibly getting others to give or raise money on his behalf. Not so, according to Burris: "I did not donate or help raise a single dollar for the governor from those conversations and would never consider making a donation through a third party."
In all, Burris expressed interest in the Senate seat to five people in Blagojevich's camp, documents obtained by the Sun-Times show. He disclosed just one of those contacts when asked Jan. 8 by state Rep. James Durkin (R-Western Springs) during the impeachment hearings to name any contact he had with Blagojevich's people about the seat.
"I'm very surprised he didn't make these disclosures," Durkin said. "I don't know if Mr. Burris was purposely being evasive during the committee or had selected memory issues."
In a sworn statement filed with the House panel Jan. 5, before he testified, Burris said he had no contact with Blagojevich's camp about the Senate seat aside from his appointment in late December. In testimony before the committee, he added that he spoke with Lon Monk, Blagojevich's former chief of staff. In his new affidavit, Burris confirms he also spoke of his interest in the Senate appointment with Blagojevich insiders John Harris, Doug Scofield and John Wyma.
A suspicious person might suspect that Burris didn't mention the solicitations earlier because they might have complicated his quest for the Senate seat. The same suspicious person might also wonder if there's a link between Burris's new affidavit and the chance one of his conversations with Blagojevich's brother was recorded,
Needless to say, all this belated remembering by Burris doesn't do much to help Illinois live down its reputation as the nation's political capital of anything-goes.
But what will be the fall-out for Burris?
Another excerpt from the CST:
Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) said Burris' new statement regarding his contact with Blagojevich's emissaries represents a "fatal wound" to a potential 2010 Burris re-election bid.
I'm not so sure. That sounds like Republican wishful thinking. Burris says he didn't make a donation and, assuming we can take him at his word (I know, I know), that he didn't cough up cash, then it's hard to imagine voters going ballistic over this. They've got bigger worries right now.
But that doesn't mean they'll have a lot of confidence in what Burris says going forward.
Comments
Is this story just being put out there by someone who wants to run for Roland's seat??
Wonder who that could be??
Posted by: ornery | February 14, 2009 6:33 PM
When you fill out a job application, if you present false info or omit relevant info and when the true information turns up you can be let go. It should be the same in this case. Like, anyone can believe him when he says he gave the governor nothing.
Posted by: Wendy C | February 14, 2009 6:46 PM
"[If] he didn't cough up cash, then it's hard to imagine voters going ballistic over this."
Are you serious?!? I'm a die-hard Democrat and I will be lobbying for Burris' impeachment if this is true. Many of us Dems are already getting ready for a primary fight next year, if he decides to seek re-election. The people of Illinois did not choose this guy - Blago did. Burris is already damaged goods, so if he lied, he is going to be toast.
Posted by: Lisa K. | February 14, 2009 6:50 PM
Omission! How about he out and out lied. He is a pompous fool and a disgrace. He only realized when he read what he said that he had omitted? He only realized when he found out the G had him on a wire tap that he was going to be exposed. The house panel, if they have the authority should have him charged with perjury. What's with these reporters or editors who call a lie an omission.
Posted by: tom ward | February 14, 2009 7:05 PM
I'll bet a dime to a dollar that Roland got wind that his conversation with Blago Bro were caught on the federal wiretap, so now he wants to do damage control.
Posted by: Tetsugen | February 14, 2009 7:16 PM
It makes no difference what Burris did or didn't do. It wouldn't matter if Obama murdered 100 people. No one cares. It's Chicago, remember.
Posted by: mj loehrer | February 14, 2009 7:26 PM
It makes no difference what Burris did or didn't do. It wouldn't matter if Obama murdered 100 people. No one cares. It's Chicago, remember.
Posted by: mj loehrer | February 14, 2009 7:26 PM
It makes no difference what Burris did or didn't do. It wouldn't matter if Obama murdered 100 people. No one cares. It's Chicago, remember.
Posted by: mj loehrer | February 14, 2009 7:27 PM
Sounds like he just down right lied! He should be kicked out!!!
Posted by: Skully | February 14, 2009 7:36 PM
Sounds like he just down right lied! He should be kicked out!!!
Posted by: Skully | February 14, 2009 7:37 PM
Roland should enjoy his days in in the Senate because they will be few. When will our pols stop embarrassing us?
Posted by: ross | February 14, 2009 7:37 PM
Sounds like he just down right lied! He should be kicked out!
Posted by: Skully | February 14, 2009 7:39 PM
Omission no, he lied over and over and on top of that played the race card with his pal Bobby Rush. Perjury charges and an impeachment should follow. He should put lying piece of crap on his tombstone.
Posted by: Bessie | February 14, 2009 7:55 PM
After the Blago impeachment Burris, and any high profile politicians from Illinois for that matter, has to be above reproach. True, it sounds like a high standard, but the people already have one black eye and have no patience for questionable representation. He needs to be removed and replaced with someone we can trust. If there is no one in the state or local governments, courts, administrators, anything, I volunteer to start knocking on doors... we have to be able to do better.
Posted by: Erik N. | February 14, 2009 7:59 PM
This Blagojevich democrat needs to be removed from all senate committees immediately pending an investigation by the ethics committee and possible impeachment. Can we PLEASE have our special election now?
Posted by: Jeff | February 14, 2009 8:14 PM
Is it possible that Burris out bid the individuals o Obama -Rahm list?
Posted by: Inky | February 14, 2009 8:14 PM
Your ballroom days are over
Night is drawing near
Shadows of the evening
Crawl across the years...
Posted by: nader paul kucinich gravel | February 14, 2009 9:44 PM
Posted by: mj loehrer | February 14, 2009 7:26 PM
You are wrong...we care. We are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore! Throw him out and add "lied and disgraced the people of Illinois by taking the Senate seat given by Blago, Jan 2009" to his monument to himself.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | February 15, 2009 7:09 AM
I stated at the time of his appointment that he was a dishonest, "pay to play" guy. He is just another Chicago thug. Omission my a**, does he think we are idiots? He failed to remember the most significant aspect of this whole sordid story, his complete lack of integrity in accepting the Senate seat in the first place. I hope it gets worse as the trial begins. I hope all the facts come out and exposes the total corruption of Il. politics. Our state government is a disaster and this clown was part of it for years. Shame on him! He not our Senator, he is Harry Reid's lap dog. Disgusting!
Posted by: Bubba Porter | February 15, 2009 7:25 AM
I think we should hang him and anyone else before we hear all the facts. Facts are overrated.
Posted by: bill r. | February 15, 2009 10:46 AM
"I hope it gets worse as the trial begins.."
Trial? On these facts, what trial? He didn't pay to play; and a perjury charge seems unlikely. Don't jump on me, it's a fair question.
Posted by: Flo | February 15, 2009 11:37 AM
When your a Democrat its not a sin of omission its an "oversight".
Posted by: Paul | February 15, 2009 11:48 AM
This is some kind of witch hunt ginned up by folk who want to run against Burris in 2010.
If you read the transcript of the testimony, he answered Yes to the question whether a list of names had contacted him.
Testimony is not a soliloquy.
It is driven by the questioner or questioners. In this case, they weren't very artful, didn't stick to the point, kept changing the subject, etc.
If they didn't follow up with specific questions about individuals as to which Burris had said Yes, they had contact with him, well---
that's just poor , disorganized interrogation technique.
But the wind machine some one has turned on doesn't seem to want to acknowledge that his answers to specific questions were accurate.
End of case.
Posted by: ornery | February 15, 2009 5:22 PM
Flo, Burris is just the race card goofus. The trial will be the Blago name dropping and corruption outing coming soon. Your hero and his pals are sure to be involved. Stay tuned. For the good of the country I an reducing my tax burden to near zero, therefore the Dems. can't waste it. Sorry Joe, not feeling that patriotic. Oh, enjoy your jobs, Flo, too bad they will be in the future, if and when us private capital guys can figure out just how bad these economic policy blunders take to wash out. Sweet dreams, conservative of course!
Posted by: Bubba Porter | February 15, 2009 8:19 PM
Oh Bubba, just go tend to your windmills. Stop acting like Boone Pickesn.
We're all interested in what Fitzgerald finally does; he screwed Illinois up big time by going public before he had his stuff together. If there's ever a trial, I'm not worried about any of my heroes. Sarah is safely tucked away in Alaska.
Posted by: Flo | February 15, 2009 9:30 PM
You're right bill r....I think we should hang him too!
Burris lied before an Illinois Senate comittee and it's written in stone!
Hey, did ya ever figure out where Cuba is yet?
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | February 15, 2009 9:41 PM
Paulo, why don't you watch http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&q=burris%20january&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv# instead of hallucinating about what you think Burris said?
Posted by: Tom J | February 16, 2009 12:04 AM
"Did Sen. Burris commit sin of omission?"
No, he committed perjury. Next question.
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspirator | February 16, 2009 8:54 AM