Burris: I Tried To Raise Money For Blago

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Congress

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Illinois Sen. Roland Burris told reporters Monday night that he tried to raise money for then-Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich before the governor appointed him to President Obama's former Senate seat.

Blagojevich, of course, was impeached and removed from office following his arrest on corruption charges, among them trying to effectively sell the seat to which he eventually named Burris.

The Chicago Tribune first reported the news.

(AP)

In a prior affidavit, Burris had said that he told Blagojevich's brother Robert that he could not raise money for Rod Blagojevich because "it could be viewed as an attempt to curry favor with him regarding his decision to appoint a successor to President Obama."

But Burris told reporters last night that he "talked to some people about trying to see if we could put a fundraiser on," according to the Tribune. He said he eventually told Robert Blagojevich that his efforts to solicit contributions had been unsuccessful.

In another apparent inconsistency, Burris put out an affidavit this weekend contradicting a claim he made during testimony to the Blagojevich impeachment committee that he had only spoken to one Blagojevich associate about his interest in the Senate seat. Burris said in the affidavit he had spoken to four more people affiliated with the governor about the seat.

Some Illinois Republicans are now calling for a perjury investigation of Burris, and Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan called the news "particularly frustrating."

"I encourage the Sangamon County state's attorney to take a closer look at this in the interest of truth, integrity and transparency," she said.

The Sangamon County attorney's office says the Burris situation is now under review.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by credibility2 February 18, 2009 2:06 PM EST: I''m a resident of IL. Burris never should have been allowed to take the US Senate seat. Too much pressure loomed mostly because of certain individuals playing the race card and demanding Burris be seated since a black previously held the seat. The US Senate leaders caved and cowered and took Burris on. Burris lied to get the seat and his vote for the stimulus plan was also a lie. He needs to resign, but also to be found guilty of perjury. I used to have some respect for this man but realize that he is as filthy as all of the other Chicago politicians.; Reply to this comment


by wtlib February 17, 2009 11:10 PM EST: We want the full truth and justice.; Reply to this comment


by mosssy1 February 17, 2009 10:30 PM EST: No exit strategy for Afghanistan or a real game plan. Spending billions like you have it. Just waiting for the day the Democratic corruption reaches Obama as if it hasn''t already. Sounds like what W. was accused of. Welcome to Bush III.; Reply to this comment


by lawyertom1 February 17, 2009 10:11 PM EST: Roland will definitely break the current record for the shortest term in the Senate. KYAG.; Reply to this comment


by formerdem-2009 February 17, 2009 10:05 PM EST: seems about what one would expect from a Chicago politician.; Reply to this comment


by bpai99 February 17, 2009 9:17 PM EST: CaribouBarbi says:

"This guy is a total idiot!"

That''s SENATOR Idiot to you and me.

Burris lied and it worked, he got into the US Senate when he was a political has-been with no future otherwise. How does that make him an idiot? No matter what happens, he''ll still be better off than if he told the truth before being confirmed.; Reply to this comment


by tmittelstaed February 17, 2009 9:06 PM EST: "About 60% of it is a Pandora''''s Box of pet Liberal Democrat projects that couldn''t stand the light of day on their own so they hid it in a bill to resolve a "crisis""

Exactly what the Republicans did with the creation of Homeland Security. They had a crisis, knew that any criticism of H.S. would be regarded as treasonable, and stuffed those bills full of pork.

It''s just Republican pork - so you like it better.; Reply to this comment


by rushlimpdrug February 17, 2009 9:00 PM EST: Burris is a punk and a wanna-be
bully,; Reply to this comment


by roystoll2 February 17, 2009 8:48 PM EST: The biggest problem with this so-called "stimulus bill" is that it is based almost entireley on a lie. About 60% of it is a Pandora''s Box of pet Liberal Democrat projects that couldn''t stand the light of day on their own so they hid it in a bill to resolve a "crisis" (per Rahm Emmanuel-"Never waste a good crisis"). On top of the fact that no person actually voting on it even had the chance to read it, much less debate it, what I have read so far is grade "A" pork, to pay back Nancy Pelosi and her husband and Harry Reid along with Chuck Schummer of New York. We just sit here and take it and listen to change is coming and "hope is on the way". I would settle FOR SOME HONEST TO GOD TRUTH. NOW THAT WOULD BE A CHANGE!; Reply to this comment


by roystoll2 February 17, 2009 8:35 PM EST: I often wonder if our government leaders realize the hyocracy they are demonstrating when they critisize and literally crucify the auto executives and the bankers and call them deceitful and crooked and without morals. Didn''t their mothers ever tell them "IF YOU POINT THE FINGER AT SOMEONE YOU HAVE THREE FINGERS POINTING BACK AT YOURSELF"?; Reply to this comment