U.S. Sen. Roland Burris insisted today that he never changed his story about the contact he had with the administration of ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich over doing campaign fund-raising for Blagojevich.
“There was no change,” Burris, speaking outside a South Side church, said of the three sworn statements he gave to the Illinois House committee that recommended Blagojevich’s impeachment.
Burris also said he hadn’t filed the latest statement as a result of contact from federal agents investigating the former governor, saying that is “absolutely, positively not true.”
He read a brief statement, lasting about one minute, then walked away without responding to questions, to have breakfast at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.
The quickly arranged appearance marked his second attempt in two days to calm the controversy that erupted after the Chicago Sun-Times reported online Saturday and in its early Sunday edition that Burris had sent an affidavit dated Feb. 5 to state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, head of the House impeachment committee.
In it, he acknowledged for the first time having had contacts with five representatives of Blagojevich regarding his appointment to the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the election of President Obama. He also confirmed that Robert Blagojevich, the since-ousted governor’s brother who headed his campaign fund, had solicited him for campaign cash.
Earlier, Burris had first told the committee, in a sworn statement, that he had no contact with anyone from the Blagojevich camp before his surprise appointment in late December. Then, testifying in Springfield. he told the committee he’d spoken with longtime Blagojevich friend Lon Monk.
On Sunday and again this morning, Burris said there were no discrepancies in those accounts.
He said today that he had, in fact, told the impeachment committee he would provide additional information later to ensure that his testimony was complete.
His Feb. 5 filing was mailed to Currie and, until the Sun-Times disclosed its existence, even other members of the impeachment committee said they were unaware of it.
Some lawmakers have questioned whether Burris was truthful and complete with the panel. And Republican leaders have called on the state’s attorney in Springfield to investigate whether Burris might have committed perjury — an accusation Burris denied, saying he’d done nothing inappropriate.
Blagojevich was hit Dec. 9 with federal corruption charges that include an accusation he tried to sell an appointment to replace Obama in the Senate.
He appointed Burris three weeks later.
Burris did not give money to the Blagojevich campaign fund in response to the solicitation by the Blagojevich camp and said he made it clear he wouldn¹t do so.
Appearing before the House impeachment committee Jan. 8, Burris testified that he was unaware of any quid pro quo dangled by Blagojevich¹s camp.
His latest statement:
I hope my man doesn't get caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Via: Chicago Sun-Times
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