Burris names new hires amid controversy

SPRINGFIELD - Despite continuing calls that he resign from office, U.S. Sen. Roland Burris offered at least the appearance of normalcy Wednesday by hiring two senior staffers.

Brady King, 43, originally from Texas, will serve as Burris' interim chief of staff. King has worked on Capitol Hill since 1992, most recently as legislative director for Rep. Allen Boyd, a Florida Democrat.

On Friday, Darrel Thompson, Burris' previous interim chief of staff, returned to his post as senior aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat.

Burris also hired Jim O'Connor to serve as communications director. O'Connor, 32, previously worked as press secretary for Blair Hull's 2004 failed U.S. Senate primary campaign. O'Connor had already been working as a spokesman for Burris in recent weeks.

"I am confident that these individuals will be instrumental in helping me carry out my work as the junior senator from Illinois, and I look forward to receiving their advice and counsel," Burris said in a prepared statement.

Burris, 71, a Democrat from Chicago, has avoided speaking with reporters following allegations he lied under oath to an Illinois House committee investigating then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who appointed Burris to the Senate in December. The U.S. Senate ethics committee and a Springfield prosecutor are investigating the perjury allegations.

On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a Springfield Democrat, said he would resign if he were in Burris' position. Gov. Pat Quinn, Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, and Comptroller Dan Hynes, all Democrats from Chicago, also have called for Burris to resign.