Burris confirms request for Blagojevich donation
SPRINGFIELD -- U.S. Sen. Roland Burris admitted in a document released Saturday that former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's brother asked him for campaign fundraising help before Blagojevich appointed Burris to the Senate.
The disclosure is at odds with Burris' testimony in January, when an Illinois House impeachment committee specifically asked whether he had ever spoken to Robert Blagojevich or other aides to the now-deposed governor about the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama.
Robert Blagojevich's attorney said Saturday that his client believes one of the conversations was recorded by FBI eavesdroppers.
The disclosure sparked Illinois House Republicans to call for Burris to be investigated for perjury. They're calling for an outside investigation because they don't trust Democratic state lawmakers to conduct a fair investigation.
In a prepared statement, Burris said he voluntarily submitted an affidavit, dated Feb. 4, because "there were several facts that I was not given the opportunity to make during my testimony to the impeachment committee."
The affidavit says Robert Blagojevich called Burris three times - once in October and twice after the November election - to seek his fundraising assistance.
Burris 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. But Burris said he did ask the governor's brother "what was going on with the selection of a successor" to Obama "and he said he had heard my name mentioned in the discussions."
Former Gov. Blagojevich appointed Burris Dec. 30, three weeks after the governor was arrested on a federal complaint that he tried to trade the Senate post for campaign cash or a high-paying job. The House impeached him and the Senate removed him from office Jan. 29.
It's the second time Burris has changed his story. In an unsolicited affidavit Jan. 6 to the impeachment committee, Burris said he had only one limited conversation with Gov. Blagojevich before accepting the Senate appointment Dec. 30.
Appearing before the committee Jan. 8, he added that he told former Blagojevich aide-turned-lobbyist Lon Monk last summer that he was interested in the post.
The latest affidavit also reveals for the first time that Burris believes he likely told former Blagojevich advisers Doug Scofield and John Wyma of his interest in the post at a fundraiser in June, and later asked about it when he spoke to Blagojevich chief of staff John Harris, arrested with Blagojevich Dec. 9.
Scofield, Wyma and Harris were also among the Blagojevich associates Burris was asked about in his Jan. 8 testimony by state Rep. Jim Durkin, the committee's ranking Republican.
In response, Burris said only that he had spoken to Monk.
"This wasn't a couple of questions that I can understand someone may forget, it goes way beyond that," Durkin said Saturday. "To say that he wasn't given the opportunity to explain himself is a load of B.S."
Durkin said he and GOP leader Tom Cross will ask for an outside investigation into whether Burris perjured himself before the House committee. He said he doesn't know yet who should conduct the inquiry. Durkin and Cross have called a press conference today to discuss the matter.
A log of Harris' calls released to the Associated Press by the Illinois governor's office indicates Burris called Harris four times in November - the last time on Nov. 26, when the log indicates the two spoke. Burris' affidavit says he had called Harris to recommend his nephew for a state job and during the conversation asked about the Senate seat.
Robert Blagojevich's lawyer, Michael Ettinger, said Blagojevich contacted Burris in October to ask him to host a fundraiser for his brother because Burris had contributed in the past. But Burris said he didn't want to commit before the Nov. 6 election. Ettinger said the subject of the Senate seat wasn't raised.
Ettinger said Blagojevich remembers only one other conversation in November from the governor's campaign office, which the FBI had wiretapped at the time. Robert Blagojevich confirmed Burris' account that he declined the fundraiser because of the potential conflict.
But he also told Ettinger no one on his brother's staff had ever mentioned Burris as being interested in the seat.
Spokeswoman Erin Fitzgerald said Burris would not make himself available for interviews Saturday and Burris aides would not answer followup questions.
In explaining his incomplete testimony, Burris said in the affidavit he recalled mentioning Monk "but was then asked another question and did not mention anyone else."
His lawyer, Timothy Wright III, said in a cover letter Burris answered "truthfully and to the best of his recollection," but that the "fluid nature" of the questioning and a review of the transcript showed Burris that he "was unable to fully respond to several matters."
Senate Democrats, led by Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and his No. 2, Dick Durbin of Illinois, vowed not to seat any appointment by Blagojevich, but eventually relented. One condition of their acceptance was Burris' impeachment committee testimony under oath that there were no "pay to play" promises exchanged in his appointment.
Spokeswoman Christina Angarola said Durbin had no comment Saturday.
Associated Press Legal Affairs Writer Mike Robinson contributed to this report from Chicago.
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=272207">Text of Sen. Roland Burris affidavit</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=272218">What now?</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>