CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) - The brother of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich solicited Sen. Roland Burris, D-Illinois, for up to $10,000 in campaign cash before Burris was named to his Senate seat, according to Burris staffers and an affidavit obtained Saturday by CNN.
However, in the affidavit, Burris said he refused to contribute to Blagojevich or to assist in fundraising for him.
Burris' appointment by Blagojevich was hotly disputed, as Blagojevich is facing corruption charges. Prosecutors' allegations against him include that he attempted to sell the Senate seat, vacated by President Barack Obama upon his election, to the highest bidder. He was ousted from office last month by Illinois lawmakers.
In his January 8 testimony before an Illinois House impeachment panel, Burris, the former Illinois attorney general, said he had no conversations with Blagojevich about his desire to be appointed to the seat prior to Blagojevich's December 9 arrest. Burris also said that he was not aware of any "quid pro quo"
with the former governor.
"I can for this committee state that there was no legal, personal or political exchange for my seat," Burris said.
From CNN Politics
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Why do only the nuts make comments?
Hmmm – if someone crooked asked me for money and I said "no", would that make me the bad guy?
Ndio! Zahidi, Tembo Toto..
marcia, marcia, marcia,
it's "new" not "knew." where did you go to school? chicago public school?
Marcia, the only dumb comment on this thread so far is yours... and leave Ken's nuts out of this. Any citizen of this country that thinks one party is right and the other wrong is in need of some civics lessons.
Hmm...not to be technical or anything, but, he testified that the Governor didn't solicit. He didn't mention the brother, nor did it appear he was asked about him, though he should have been. Either way, it was sly of the Governor to use family to do his dirty work. Doesn't mean Burris' hands are clean, though.
O.K. Seriously, who didn't see this coming? Don't tell me that Democrats are to blame for this. Democrats tried to block this appointment and Republicans created this civil rights/race facade about the nomination that forced Democrats to acquiesce in the court of public opinion. Terrible. As is often the case, the semblance of impropriety is accompanied by inappropriate behavior.
Ken @February 14th, 2009 1:39 pm ET - Why should he be any different than any other politician? Obama bought the White House, Pelosi bought her seat by raming down the American people's throat with her PET MOUSE PROJECT! And I bet that if someone really looked into Burris's financial situation, they would see that in fact Burris did buy his Senate seat.
_____________________________________________________________
You drink, right? And I'll bet the love of your life is old Rush Limbaugh. LMAO.
SURPRISE !
Ken, grow up ! You have no idea about what you are even talking about.
Do some research before opening your mouth. Typical Repub !
THE MAFIOSO DEMS WILL TAKE ANYONE WITH A VOTE FOR THEIR
SUBVERSIVE AJENDAS...ALL PROMISES MADE FOR THE HALF
BILLION BUY OF THE WHITE HOUSE WILL NEVER BE FULLFILLED.
GUESS NOBODY OUT THERE EVER BELIEVED THE SAYING ANY-
THING THAT SOUNDS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE IS"TO GOOD TO
BE TRUE" LET COMMON SENSE RULE AS FAR AS US VOTERS ARE
CONCERNED.
VET NH
Amazing how the facts come out after the horse is out of the barn. But I have grown to expect this out of politicians. I am proud of the people of this country but not the politicians.
Marcia, Marcia, Marcia in CA, I agree with Ken, I bet Burris did buy his seat, I am a devout Democrat, but I'm not going to stand by while someone is going to screw others for their own self interests, NO MATTER WHAT PARTY THEY ARE AFFILIATED WITH, I dont care if he is a Democrat he needs to be fully investigated
and also Marcia Marcia Marci... it isn't "knew" it's new, go back to grammar school before you insult others, moron
Congress is full of crooks, liars and cheats. You really can trust only a very few in politics anymore. I will never ever believe that Obama won the white house all by himself with no help from Acorn or other crooked means. The way things are going so early in his administration he is going down in flames. I'd bet anything he will wind up being a one term president. The stimulus package is going to destroy this nation if Congress and Obama don't do it first.
Ken, please that was proven false days ago.
there is nothing in the stimulus for pet mice.
stop depending on FIX NEWS for you sole information. at least pretend that you look up all the facts before you make a judgement to believe it.
as far as the ticket goes...
this isn't surprising.
Hey, let us just dismiss this 'new revelation' as what it truly is and how it should be treated as from any other prominent Illinois politician and/or his/her relatives; with the utmost contempt. It seems that Illinois has, for many many decades taken to heart Huey Long's admonishment: “Some day Louisiana will have honest government, and they won’t like it.”
It's a rotton shame he didn't come forward in the beginning. Nevertheless he is only in there for the rest of Obama's term and the voters will clean house. After eight years of Republican lies-pardons and cover-ups this is just a blip on the political scandels radar! A real travestry of deceit-ask yourselves if"Turd Blossom" will ever come clean?
Was the house impeachment testimony under oath?
If it was, he should be ousted NOW
Well Burris is just another take care of me soldier. He is guilty of exactly what he said he did NOT do. Have conversations with the accused.
He was taken in by the senate, and now he needs to be ousted from the senate seat.
NOW.
betty j bergere
Mr. Burris, please be quiet !!!! You got the seat, didn't you ???
COMING FROM THE STATE HARRY REID REPRESENTS, HE ALWAYS HAS A REASON FOR DOING SOMETHING (ex: BLOCKING BURRIS APPT.) WHAT A SHAME THAT BURRIS WAS ALLOWED TO BE SEATED. WHY DIDN'T HE TELL US DURING THAT TIME HE WAS BEING BLOCKED?
Ken, Please tell me how Obama bought the White House? How did Bush get elected, wasn't he chosen and paid for by the rich Texan Oil men There was NO mouse project in Speaker Polosi's district. Do some research before you spread ugly rumors.
I believe Senator Burris is telling the truth when he said he did not give any money to Blogo even though he was asked to donate.
@ KEN:
There IS no "pet mouse project." Read the bill.
How, pray, did President Obama "buy" the White House? Certainly not in the way his predecessor did.
I am a Democrat, BUT ... Burris should be UN-seated for LYING, and be replaced in a SPECIAL ELECTION.
Congress should bring in a constitutional amendment to take the power to appoint replacement Senators AWAY from Governors.
@Ken February 14th, 2009 1:39 pm ET
Why should he be any different than any other politician?** Obama bought the White House***Ken Rush would Disagree with you on this one..... SOOOOO shut your lying Mouth
Funny headline, CNN!