Hynes calls for Burris to resign
Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes, a Chicago Democrat and former Senate candidate himself, added his voice today to the growing list of politicians calling for Roland Burris to resign.
In a letter to newspapers, Hynes argues Burris would be the better man for stepping down from the Senate to end the distraction.
"As a government leader and civil rights trailblazer, Sen. Burris has served the state of Illinois and the nation honorably for many decades," Hynes wrote. "He should do so again."
Hynes joins a list of politicians calling on Burris to step down. Several congressional members - both Republican and Democratic - and various state lawmakers and county officials also have urged Burris to resign.
Burris has instituted a self-imposed ban on media interviews and he canceled a public appearance in Rockford today.
A Chicago newspaper reported this morning that Burris may have had even more contact than he recently reported with John Harris, then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich's chief of staff, about the appointment before both Harris and the governor were arrested on charges of allegedly conspiring to sell the Senate seat.
Burris maintains he did nothing wrong and has always been transparent about his interactions with Blagojevich insiders before his appointment. However, he just recently admitted he tried to raise campaign cash for the governor at the same time he was lobbying to win the Senate appointment.
A Senate ethics inquiry has been initiated and a downstate county prosecutor is reviewing the matter.