Conservative Libertarian Outpost

When Blago got caught with his pants down and the Illinois people did the right thing I was impressed. I also believed that appointing Rolland Burris as the replacement for the obama that maybe, just maybe the state that brought us Lincoln may have turned the tide on generational misdeeds in a place that seemed to know no other way. However, it would appear that I was indeed mistaken, and that the buffed and polished new Illinois version of a politician is nothing more than what we have always seen come out of the Chicago political machine, and that this is nothing more,or less, than lipstick on a pig.

I submit that the people of Illinois deserve better than that.

Freshly appointed Illinois Democrat Sen. Roland Burris could be facing an investigation into his dealings with disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, and is already defending himself against calls for his resignation from Congress. It turns out that Burris may have perjured himself during his 8 January testimony before the Illinois legislature when he unequivocally stated that he did not have any contact with Blagojevich, his family or staff about the Senate seat that was being put up for sale. Burris stated at the time that he only spoke with an aide, Lon Monk. But an affidavit filed by Burris on 5 February indicates that he did in fact speak with Robert Blagojevich, the former governor’s brother, about raising campaign cash for the governor. Burris ultimately refused to do so, but the timing of the conversation clearly indicates that the campaign fundraising was a quid pro quo for a Senate appointment. There is speculation that Burris filed the affidavit because he was uncertain whether the FBI was recording his conversations with Blagojevich.

Burris claims he did nothing wrong and intends to fight the charges against him, claiming that he truthfully answered all the questions he was asked. But if he was asked if he had spoken with any of Blagojevich’s family or staff and he said no, then he either lied during his January testimony or in his February affidavit. We expect Burris to hold onto his seat if for no other reason than he’s a Democrat, though apparently his Illinois colleague, Sen. Dick Durbin, is having second thoughts: “At this point, his future in the Senate seat is in question.”

SOURCE

Tags: News, Politics, Rolland Burris

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