Post by MacBeth on Feb 14, 2009 16:55:33 GMT -5
CHICAGO - Sen. Roland Burris admitted Saturday that former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's brother asked him for a campaign contribution before the governor appointed Burris to the Senate.
The disclosure is at odds with Burris' testimony in January when an Illinois House impeachment committee specifically asked if he had ever spoken to Robert Blagojevich or other aides to the now-deposed governor about the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama.
Burris issued a statement Saturday saying he voluntarily gave the committee a Feb. 4 affidavit disclosing the contact with Robert Blagojevich because "there were several facts that I was not given the opportunity to make during my testimony to the impeachment committee."
The affidavit, released Saturday by Burris' office, said Robert Blagojevich called him three times — once in October and twice after the November election — to seek his fundraising assistance.
Burris, a Democrat like the governor, said he told Blagojevich he would not raise money because it would look like he was trying to win favor from the governor for his appointment.
The governor appointed Burris, a former state attorney general, to Obama's Senate seat on Dec. 30, three weeks after federal agents arrested Blagojevich on a complaint alleging he had tried to trade the appointment for campaign cash or a high-paying job. The House impeached Blagojevich and the Senate removed him from office on Jan. 29.
Senate Democrats in Washington initially said they would not seat anyone appointed by Blagojevich, but eventually relented. One condition of their acceptance was Burris' testimony before the Illinois House committee.
Early contacts
State House impeachment committee chairwoman Barbara Flynn Currie, a Democrat, said she had received the affidavit but had not had time to compare it to Burris' testimony.
The affidavit also discloses for the first time that Burris told former Blagojevich advisers Doug Scofield and John Wyma of his interest in the post at a fundraiser in June, and later with Blagojevich chief of staff John Harris, who was arrested with Blagojevich on Dec. 9.
Scofield, Wyma and Harris were among the Blagojevich associates Burris was asked about in his Jan. 8 testimony by state Rep. Jim Durkin, the impeachment committee's ranking Republican.
In response, Burris said he had spoken only to Lon Monk, a former Blagojevich aide-turned-lobbyist, last summer about his willingness to take the seat.
"This wasn't a couple of questions that I can understand someone may forget, it goes way beyond that," Durkin said Saturday. "To say that he wasn't given the opportunity to explain himself is a load of B.S."
A spokeswoman for Burris said he would not make himself available for interviews Saturday.
Robert Blagojevich's attorney, Michael Ettinger, did not immediate respond to a message seeking comment Saturday.
The former governor's public relations representative, Glenn Selig, aid he would see if the governor had any comment.
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29195951/
The disclosure is at odds with Burris' testimony in January when an Illinois House impeachment committee specifically asked if he had ever spoken to Robert Blagojevich or other aides to the now-deposed governor about the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama.
Burris issued a statement Saturday saying he voluntarily gave the committee a Feb. 4 affidavit disclosing the contact with Robert Blagojevich because "there were several facts that I was not given the opportunity to make during my testimony to the impeachment committee."
The affidavit, released Saturday by Burris' office, said Robert Blagojevich called him three times — once in October and twice after the November election — to seek his fundraising assistance.
Burris, a Democrat like the governor, said he told Blagojevich he would not raise money because it would look like he was trying to win favor from the governor for his appointment.
The governor appointed Burris, a former state attorney general, to Obama's Senate seat on Dec. 30, three weeks after federal agents arrested Blagojevich on a complaint alleging he had tried to trade the appointment for campaign cash or a high-paying job. The House impeached Blagojevich and the Senate removed him from office on Jan. 29.
Senate Democrats in Washington initially said they would not seat anyone appointed by Blagojevich, but eventually relented. One condition of their acceptance was Burris' testimony before the Illinois House committee.
Early contacts
State House impeachment committee chairwoman Barbara Flynn Currie, a Democrat, said she had received the affidavit but had not had time to compare it to Burris' testimony.
The affidavit also discloses for the first time that Burris told former Blagojevich advisers Doug Scofield and John Wyma of his interest in the post at a fundraiser in June, and later with Blagojevich chief of staff John Harris, who was arrested with Blagojevich on Dec. 9.
Scofield, Wyma and Harris were among the Blagojevich associates Burris was asked about in his Jan. 8 testimony by state Rep. Jim Durkin, the impeachment committee's ranking Republican.
In response, Burris said he had spoken only to Lon Monk, a former Blagojevich aide-turned-lobbyist, last summer about his willingness to take the seat.
"This wasn't a couple of questions that I can understand someone may forget, it goes way beyond that," Durkin said Saturday. "To say that he wasn't given the opportunity to explain himself is a load of B.S."
A spokeswoman for Burris said he would not make himself available for interviews Saturday.
Robert Blagojevich's attorney, Michael Ettinger, did not immediate respond to a message seeking comment Saturday.
The former governor's public relations representative, Glenn Selig, aid he would see if the governor had any comment.
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29195951/
