Burris revises and extends remarks on Blagojevich contribution request
Chicago Tribune:
I think the issue will be a part of any campaign that Burris might try to hang onto the seat. Voters would have good reason to doubt Burris.
U.S. Sen. Roland Burris has changed his story again about what happened before ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed him to the Senate, and state Republican leaders said Saturday they want an investigation into whether he perjured himself.Normally it is not that unusual for a witness to read his transcript and find he may have omitted relevant information. In most cases no one would suggest impropriety. What makes this case special is that the omitted material went to the heart of the questions about the former governor and were at the heart of the case being made by the US Attorney in Chicago. Under those circumstances the omission is extraordinary. Any case brought because of the testimony will be fraught with political implications. Perjury cases are usually very difficult.
Burris gradually has acknowledged deeper contacts with Blagojevich allies after initially portraying himself as a surprise pick for the controversial seat the former governor is accused of trying to sell.
But Illinois House Republican leaders said they now wonder if Burris purposely deceived the public while under oath last month by not telling a special House impeachment panel that Blagojevich's brother asked for fundraising help before the now-disgraced ex-governor appointed him.
State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) said he would ask the now-dormant impeachment committee to refer the matter to Sangamon County State's Atty. John Schmidt, a Republican, after learning of the revelations by Burris, who is a Democrat.
Burris acknowledged the discussions with the governor's brother, Robert, in an affidavit the senator quietly filed Feb. 5 with the head of the committee.
In the affidavit, Burris said Robert Blagojevich called him three times seeking his fundraising assistance. In addition, Burris said he spoke with three other close associates of the governor and a labor leader with ties to the Blagojevich administration about being appointed to the Senate. Burris previously acknowledged only having spoken to one such friend.
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Burris said he made the recent affidavit after reading the transcripts of his sworn testimony and realizing his answers were incomplete.
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The new affidavit--filed only after he was sworn in Jan. 15--could damage Burris' credibility as it is now his third account of what happened behind the scenes preceding Blagojevich's decision to pick him as President Barack Obama's Senate replacement.
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I think the issue will be a part of any campaign that Burris might try to hang onto the seat. Voters would have good reason to doubt Burris.
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