Controversy Surrounding Burris Deepens With Ethics Probe, Revelations Of Former Blagojevich Aide

Friday, February 20, 2009
Kris Alingod - AHN Contributor Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The controversy surrounding Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) contacts with and alleged fundraising for impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich intensified on Friday with revelations from a former Blagojevich aide and a Senate Ethics Committee probe.
The 71-year-old Burris was appointed to the Senate seat of President Barack Obama by Blagojevich last Dec. 30. Senate Democrats had initially tried blocking his nomination, saying he was "tainted" by allegations that the former governor, who was required under state law to make the appointment, tried to sell the seat.
He was sworn into office on Jan. 15, a week after testifying before the state impeachment panel that there was no quid pro quo involved in his nomination. His testimony had been one of the requirements laid out by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) before he could take the oath of office.
But allegations of perjury and calls for resignation erupted last week following an affidavit the Burris had filed early this month with the special state committee. The senator says in the affidavit that Blagojevich's brother, Rob, had called him three times to ask for help in fundraising for the governor, information Burris had not revealed during his testimony before the state Senate.
The Chicago Tribune reported on Friday that John Filan, former chief operating officer in Blagojevich's administration, got two calls last year from Burris. The first was a courtesy call while the second, made after Blagojevich was arrested on Dec. 9, had Burris allegedly asking to have a "good word" put in for him to then-Lt. Gov. and now Gov. Pat Quinn.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), who had has called the media revelations "troubling," and the Senate Ethics Panel has begun an investigation.
The Tribune had called for Burris to step down on Wednesday, saying, "The benefit of the doubt had already been stretched thin and taut by the time Roland Burris offered his third version of the events leading to his appointment... It finally snapped like a rubber band."
The same day, the Washington Post quipped, "Buy-Buy, Mr. Burris."
The White House has refused to join the calls for resignation, but said the people of Illinois deserve full disclosure from Burris.
Burris has adamantly defended himself. He said earlier this week that he had notified the state impeachment committee that he would submit "supplemental information" following his testimony. Addressing a public policy luncheon in Chicago on Wednesday, he said, I'm new in Washington, they don't know me out there yet... trust and relationships take time to build. But my record in Illinois goes by decades, as do my friendship with many of you in this room."
"Thirty years I've in service in this state, and you know me. If I had done the things I've been accused of, I would be too embarrassed to stand up here in front of you because you all are my friends," the senator added.