Sen. Burris Escapes Perjury Rap

Illinois House Can't Find Enough Evidence To Support Charges Stemming From Blagojevich Scandal

(AP)  Illinois Sen. Roland Burris will not be charged with perjury for statements he made before an Illinois House impeachment committee because there isn't enough evidence to support the charge, the state prosecutor investigating the case said Friday.

Sangamon County State's Attorney John Schmidt said that while some of Burris' statements were vague, they wouldn't support a perjury charge.

"I am obviously very pleased with today's decision by State's Attorney John Schmidt. His investigation was both thorough and fair, and I am glad that the truth has prevailed," Burris said in a statement.

"This matter has now been fully investigated; I cooperated at every phase of the process, and as I have said from the beginning, I have never engaged in any pay-to-play, never perjured myself, and came to this seat in an honest and legal way. Today's announcement confirms all that," he said.

Burris, 71, was appointed to President Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich after the FBI arrested Blagojevich on corruption charges. Those charges include allegations that Blagojevich tried to sell the seat for political donations. Blagojevich, who was impeached and removed from office, has denied wrongdoing.

The new senator has been under intense scrutiny because of the circumstances surrounding his appointment and for changing his story multiple times about whether he promised anything for Blagojevich in exchange for the seat. The ethics committee began a preliminary investigation into how Burris got his job, and the Sangamon County State's Attorney was asked to determine whether perjury charges were warranted.

Burris has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, and asserted his appointment to the Senate was clean.

According to a wiretap transcript of conversations between Burris and Blagojevich, Burris promised to "personally do something" for the then-governor's campaign fund while pressing Blagojevich to appoint him to the seat.

The remark came after Robert Blagojevich urged Burris to "keep me in mind and you know if you guys can just write checks that'd be fine, if we can't find a way for you to tie in."

"Okay, okay, well we, we, I, I will personally do something, okay," Burris says.

Earlier in the conversation, Burris and Robert Blagojevich explored the possibility that Burris might raise campaign money on a larger scale.

"I know I could give him a check," Burris said. "Myself."

Burris attorney Timothy Wright has said Burris never wrote any checks to the Blagojevich campaign following the conversation. Burris, a former Illinois attorney general, had donated to Blagojevich's campaigns previously.

[naj1953]

lies..This is wrong

[stn_sage]

Boy! I don't know how much MORE explicit a statement needs to be, to qualify one as guilty of perjury! I'd say, his statement should be enough!

IF the prosecutors don't see it that way, it's because they don't WANT to!

This is just one MORE example of the 'hands off' policy of state and federal prosecutors toward federal politicians!

I'm sure the prosecutors are rationalizing their decision by saying to themselves that after all the negative publicity he's gotten for what
he DID, that the public won't elect him now, anyway!

And THAT'S suppose to 'let them off the hook' for NOT doing their jobs!
But, IT DOESN'T!!

[starleo146]

I am in favor of limiting any congressman or Senator to only 2 terms just as the president and get rid of all the dead weight in both houses once and for all. We keep hoping but Congress just dashes any hope because some of our representatives are tied to special interest and we are a forgotten people, when it comes to us , what have they given us, we are pounding on the street for a job Wall Street sure don't, lets push for this and send a letter or email that is what we want limit all of you to a 2 year term.It sure would cut down on the amount of the pension they will receive. It should be deducted from there social security the amount they are allowed just like the rest of us. Sick of their bickering back and forth and only thinking of the powerful and not the people they represent

[credibility2]

Burris is a perjuring political hack old fool. The reasons behind this decision were based on his being a corrupt Chicago Dem politician (which is favored in my state of IL), his race and his age. It's a joke that Dem Senators Durbin and Reid and the rest of the Dem hyena jackal circle in DC (which also includes the Black Caucus which pressured and racially intimidated the spineless white politicians in DC to accept Burris) continue to stand behind this pay for play cheat. Once again, the people of IL have been denied justice. There is no shame among the Chicago corrupt political machine and the far reaching of its talons on our federal government.

[starleo146]

This man is so guilty of perjury. This election is not rigged,they are protesting in Iran, just blatantly lie to their people. How are we different with our lies to the people? Just to protect their own. This is all to keep the count of democrat Senators at above the republicans I voted democrat but right is right and wrong is wrong,this is wrong.

[cbsblogger]

This is America! What do you expect a lying, corrupt, cheating, scumbag Senator and member of our so-called elitist club to be held accountable? Only the little people are ever jailed. The elite make back room deals and scratch each others corrupt backs.