Sen. Burris denies that accounts clash
By PETER SLEVIN - The Washington Post
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| Former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris addresses the news media Dec. 30, 2008, in Chicago after being appointed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, left, to fill President Obama's U.S. Senate seat. Burris, now in the Senate, admitted Saturday that Blagojevich's brother had asked him for a campaign contribution before the governor appointed Burris. In his statement, 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. (AP file photo) |
CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. Senator Roland Burris fielded questions Sunday about a major omission from his testimony to an impeachment committee last month.
A sometimes emotional Burris told reporters in Chicago that he never misled anyone.
Pressure has built on Burris after he released an affidavit Saturday that appeared to contradict statements he made to a state House committee investigating former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment.
The affidavit indicates Blagojevich's brother asked Burris to host a fundraiser for the governor before Burris was appointed to the vacancy left by Barack Obama.
Burris didn't mention that in his January testimony.
But he says that's because questioning last month abruptly changed course and he never got a chance to answer a direct question about Blagojevich's brother.
Earlier Sunday, some Illinois state legislators called on Burris to resign because of the apparent contradiction.
"I can't believe anything that comes out of Mr. Burris at this point," said State Rep. Jim Durkin, the impeachment committee's ranking Republican. "I think it would be in the best interest of the state if he resigned because I don't think the state can stand this anymore."
Gov. Pat Quinn, the Democrat who replaced Blagojevich after he was ousted over corruption allegations last month, also called on Burris to explain the contradiction.
"My opinion is that he owes the people of Illinois a complete explanation," Quinn said, according to his spokesman, Bob Reed.
Durkin, the impeachment committee's ranking Republican, and House Republican Leader Tom Cross also wants an investigation of Burris for possible perjury.
It's not clear what action state legislators could now take against Burris, said Northwestern University law professor and former Illinois Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch.
"I'm not aware that anything quite like this has happened in any state before," she said.
Based on federal law, the state senate could argue that Burris was a temporary appointment, then pass a bill calling for a special election to name a permanent senator, Netsch said.
But Quinn's hands may be tied.
"I don't see anything that the current governor could do, except to ask for legislation to ask for a special election," she said.
Saturday's disclosure by Burris reflects a major omission from his 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 seat vacated by Obama.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he was reviewing the disclosure, the latest twist for Democrats who only consented to seat Burris on the belief that there was no chance of "pay for play" politics surrounding his appointment.
Burris said that 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 after it was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, said Robert Blagojevich called him three times — once in October and twice after the November election — to seek his fundraising assistance.
Robert Blagojevich's attorney has said his client believes one of the conversations was recorded by the FBI.
Burris, a Democrat like the former governor, has said he told Robert Blagojevich he would not raise money because it would look like he was trying to win favor from the governor for his appointment. But he said he did ask the governor's brother "what was going on with the selection of a successor" to Obama in the Senate and "he said he had heard my name mentioned in the discussions."
