Illinois GOP leaders call for criminal probe into Burris statements

Under fire from some Illinois Republican leaders calling for an investigation into his testimony before an impeachment committee and others calling for his resignation, U.S. Sen. Roland Burris on Sunday said again and again that he has done nothing wrong.

"I've always conducted myself with honor and integrity," said Burris, 71. "At no time did I ever make any inconsistent statement."

But House GOP Leader Tom Cross and state Rep. Jim Durkin said testimony Burris gave last month to the Illinois House committee investigating then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment was contradicted by a Feb. 5 affidavit signed by Burris that came to light this weekend.

In the document - sent to state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, the Democrat leading the investigatory committee - Burris acknowledged he spoke with the then-governor's brother, Rob, about possible campaign fundraising before Blagojevich appointed him to the Senate.

When the committee asked Burris Jan. 8 about contacts with the then-governor's representatives during its investigation, however, Burris did not mention those conversations. He didn't mention them in a prior affidavit, either.

During a news conference Sunday in downtown Chicago, Cross and Durkin called for the committee to refer the matter to the Sangamon County state's attorney's office so it could investigate whether Burris committed perjury.

"We have to do something," said Durkin, the ranking Republican on the impeachment committee. "We cannot put our head in the sand.

"I think it would be in the best interest of the state if he resigned because I don't think the state can stand this anymore," Durkin said.

In his own news conference later in the day, Burris, a Democrat, insisted his various statements were not inconsistent. Burris said he answered "yes" when Durkin asked him, during his House committee testimony, if he'd spoken to representatives of the governor before his appointment, including the governor's brother and others.

"The 'yes' was for all of those names," Burris said.

According to the affidavit, Blagojevich's brother, Robert Blagojevich, called Burris three times in October and twice after the November election to seek his fundraising assistance.

Burris said he didn't specify to whom he spoke, other than naming one ally of the governor's, while under oath because Durkin took the conversation in a different direction.

Burris said he created the Feb. 5 affidavit to expand on answers he gave during his testimony and to provide information he couldn't at the time.

However, transcripts of Burris' impeachment committee testimony show he had opportunities to provide a full response to Illinois legislators. In one instance, when asked directly about speaking to Robert Blagojevich and other associates of the former governor, Burris consulted with his attorney before responding.

Burris acknowledged Sunday the then-governor's brother spoke to him about fundraising for Blagojevich, and he said he declined the request.

"I made it very clear to him that I would not contribute, that it would be inappropriate," Burris said during the news conference. "I did not donate one single dollar... or promise any favors."

Burris' attorney, Timothy W. Wright III, stood by the senator at the news conference and fielded a few questions from the media, too.

During the Republican news conference earlier in the day, Cross said he was more concerned with the surprising revelation of the affidavit than with the senator's comments within it. He alleged the document was deliberately withheld from the public and other lawmakers.

Durkin said he hopes Currie will reconvene the impeachment committee to discuss the matter. Durkin stopped short of saying she covered up the affidavit.

If the committee does not call on Sangamon County prosecutors to open an investigation, the state's attorney can do so on his own, the Republicans said.

As he proclaimed his innocence, Burris refused to say whether he'd welcome an investigation by Sangamon County authorities. However, he said an investigation "will support what I'm saying."

"The facts speak for themselves," Burris said.

Burris also repeatedly blamed the media for the controversy, saying "the inconsistencies are coming from you all."

Some suburban lawmakers don't buy Burris' explanation and have little pity for his predicament.

"There's nothing from the news conference that leads me to believe, oh, this is just a misunderstanding," said State Rep. Paul Froehlich, a Democrat from Schaumburg. "It's getting deeper and deeper now. Because his third version of the events conflicted with the first two."

Froehlich, who co-sponsored a bill calling for a special election to fill Obama's senate seat, said Burris has "zero credibility" and should be "thrown out."

State Sen. Matt Murphy, a Republican from Palatine, said Burris only got the senate seat because he led everyone to believe he had nothing to do with any of Blagojevich's fundraisers.

"It was a lie by omission," Murphy said. "He knew he had more contact with them than he was letting on ... I don't feel sorry for him at all."

Burris said Sunday he spoke to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and senior Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin and "they understand what's going on."

Reid spokesman Jim Manley confirmed Burris told Reid about the affidavit Friday.

"Clearly it would have been better if Senator Burris had provided this information when he first testified," Manley said. "Senator Reid is reviewing the affidavit and will await any action by Illinois legislative leaders after they review the matter."

Durbin spokeswoman Christina Angarola said Burris told Durbin about the affidavit on Friday, but didn't provide a copy.

Gov. Pat Quinn, who advanced to the governor's mansion after Blagojevich was ousted over corruption allegations last month, also called on Burris to explain the contradiction.

"My opinion is that he owes the people of Illinois a complete explanation," Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said, according to Quinn spokesman Bob Reed.

It's not clear what action state legislators could now take against Burris, said Northwestern University law professor and former Illinois Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch.

"I'm not aware that anything quite like this has happened in any state before," she said.

Despite the controversy, Burris still planned to embark on his "listening tour" of Illinois Monday.

The driving tour would take Burris to Peoria on Monday and later to Bloomington and Normal. He then would return to Chicago on Wednesday for a City Club appearance, and later visit Rockford and North Chicago.

The trip was planned before Saturday's revelations about Burris' conversations with allies of Blagojevich concerning his appointment to the Senate seat formerly held by President Barack Obama.

• Daily Herald Staff Writer Jamie Sotonoff and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="javascript:void(window.open('http://video.ap.org/?t=By%20Section/U.S.&g=0216dvs_pol_burris_latest&f=ILARL','_blank','width=788,height=598,status=1,scrollbars=1,resizable=1'));">Ill. Republican Calls for Burris to Resign </a></li> <li><a href="javascript:void(window.open('http://video.ap.org/?t=By%20Section/U.S.&g=0215dv_burris_presser&f=ILARL','_blank','width=788,height=598,status=1,scrollbars=1,resizable=1'));">Burris Denies Misleading in Blagojevich Hearing </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>