Burris: Blame Impeachment Panel For Bad Questions, Not Me

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — U.S. Sen. Roland Burris said Thursday that he did not mislead lawmakers investigating his Senate appointment because they failed to "follow up with the questions" that could have revealed a conversation he had about fundraising for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

"It is not upon a person who's testifying to go out of his way on anything. It is the person who has to ask the questions," Burris said.

Burris has been under fire for his conversations with Blagojevich's brother Robert, who ran the ousted governor's campaign.

Details of a conversation last November came out Wednesday when a judge approved the release of a federal wiretap recording of a telephone call to the Senate Ethics Committee investigating Burris' appointment.

On the call, Burris tells Robert Blagojevich about his interest in being appointed to President Barack Obama's former Senate seat and his desire to help the governor raise campaign money. Burris said he could not do any major fundraising without looking like he was trying to buy the appointment, but he promised to "personally do something" for Blagojevich.

The Chicago Democrat now said he was trying to stay on Blagojevich's good side and had no intention of helping him raise money. He did not make any donations to Blagojevich after the call.

Burris did not disclose the call in January when he testified before a special Illinois House committee considering the governor's impeachment. He blamed lawmakers for not getting the information out of him.

"I'm responding to questions. Why should I have to _ in your estimation, in your assessment _ go out of my way to answer questions when I was answering questions that were asked? Why didn't the impeachment committee follow up with the questions to ask me?" he said.

U.S. Senate leaders required Burris to testify as a condition of seating him in Washington. They wanted him to state under oath that he had done nothing improper.

Burris testified that he did not strike any improper deals with Blagojevich. When asked whether he had talked to any Blagojevich aide, Burris mentioned only one person: the governor's former chief of staff.

Burris was later asked by a lawmaker if he had spoken to anyone else about the appointment, and Burris said he could not recall.

State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, who headed the Illinois House impeachment committee, said Burris could have done himself a favor by disclosing the call with Robert Blagojevich when he testified.

"I certainly wish he had. I think it would have been better for him all around," Currie said.

Burris was appointed after Blagojevich was arrested on charges that included trying to sell Obama's seat. Burris has denied wrongdoing.

Burris said Thursday he would reveal in the "very near future" whether he will run for a full Senate term.

Comments

[PuzzledinPeoria]

01:17 PM on 05/31/2009

What an emBURRISment to the people of Illinois.

[Tahir Naim]

11:02 PM on 05/29/2009

Michele Obama should have been the first choice all along. Let's get her in now

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/291054/32891149?m=2ca027c0

[Cynde]

11:53 AM on 05/29/2009

But but but but Dear Sir they did ask you those questions and conveniently you could not recall. Either your mental capacity is diminishing and you should not be a senator or you were faking the panel out and should not be a senator.

Senator Durbin, time for you to step up to bat and save Illinois.

[shades3]

11:08 AM on 05/29/2009

The appointment of Burris by the disgraced, dishonest, narcissistic former Governor was, I think, a final F*&k You on his way out the door.
Blago thought that it would be almost impossible to dislodge Burris once he was confirmed, which he was, despite his bobbing and weaving with the truth during his confirmation.
He seems to have been right.

[mjb5406]

11:34 AM on 05/29/2009

It pretty much was Blago's middle finger to the state. However, if the Senate Ethics Committee does find that he acted with impropriety, they can censure or remove him without involvement from either the current governor or even the citizens of Illinois, if I read the rules correctly. Whether they can strip him of his title as Senator may be another issue.

[mamala4]

09:38 AM on 05/29/2009

You get blamed for the lying answers....

[ThisIsJustMyObservation]

11:24 PM on 05/28/2009

NPD (narcissistic personality disorder)

[richdibo]

10:48 PM on 05/28/2009

You mean you governor was impeached! Who did he have sex with?

[me again]

10:43 PM on 05/28/2009

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah........tainted from the start.......toss him out of the Senate.....then he'll have a trail blazing statement for his mausoleum...first African American removed from the Senate.....

[tbirdalum]

10:19 PM on 05/28/2009

Oh, so you were lying to Blago like you're lying to us now. And now to prove I'm a crook, you have to ask the question right. You know I'm a crook, just ask the right way. What a dingleberry.

[JayDDrew]

09:53 PM on 05/28/2009

When you've done nothing wrong, or even remotley suspicious, you have no problems elaborating when asked questions. Burris wasn't dumb. Basically, he is saying he didn't lie, he just didn't offer the whole truth when asked.
The author is right: a man who already has a tombstone as big as a small vehicle inscribed with his accomplishments-to-date is not about to step down. The Senate needs to boot him out as soon as possible, or the people of Illinois should recall him, if possible.
Perhaps a sign can be placed next to his tombstone, noting what a dishonorable P.O.S. Burris is.

[ThomasMc]

09:09 PM on 05/28/2009

1 word: impeachment.

[Pleneras]

08:19 PM on 05/28/2009

Much ado about nothing! He clearly was concerned that what is a normal contributition to a governor will be seen as inappropriate which it is not. What do all politicians practice in this country? Vote for me and I'll get you a job, or I'll do fundraising for you, or nominate you, or I'll back you up when you run. ALL FAVORS! He absolutely clearly states his concerns and his desire for the seat at the same time which was verbally addressed PROPERLY!

Meanwhile the real crooks who rob our tax dollars and gave it to Halliburton, Blackwater and Bush, Cheney & Company are loose and on OUR TAX PAYROLL!

The media and public has their priorities all screwed up!

[ThisIsJustMyObservation]

08:44 PM on 05/28/2009

The Senate Panel needs to thoroughly investigate him and maybe this time have Chris Matthews asked the tough questions since he doesn't think the questions weren't tough enough or it’s not his fault the Illinois impeachment committee didn’t ask him thorough questions.

The DA should look into perjury charges and make sure they ask him every question in the book.

Roland Burris also needs to be disbarred; the bar has a very low threshold where perjury is concerned and deliberately misleading is perjury according to the bar association.

The only reason why he couldn't use his lawyer is because his lawyer had more scruples than Roland Burris the Clown and wouldn’t allow it.

[Pleneras]

09:32 PM on 05/28/2009

Oh you mean like Clinton who did not commit a crime except perjured himself for being afraid to tell the honest innocent truth which he had every right to say I refuse? When we start scaring people for doing nothing wrong and destroy their career for being nothing but stupid... we have reached another low.

The audio proves NOTHING wrong was done. In fact it proves he was trying his best to avoid this very "ooooo we better investigatigate him for what he may have done" BS.

[rwext]

07:56 PM on 05/28/2009

please, please please run in 2010... I will even call your office and promise them a check( but I probably will think better of it )

[ThinkCreeps]

07:09 PM on 05/28/2009

It's not just the old lady's bags he's carrying