Saturday, February 14, 2009

Burris questioner Jim Durkin: "I don't accept that this is a lapse in memory"

January 14, 2009

(1-5) Jan 5th affidavit to the impeachment committee
(1-7) Jan 7th Press conference denying contact

(1-8) Jan 8th testimony before impeachment committee (text)
(1-8) Jan 8th testimony before the impeachment committee (vide0)

(2-4) Feb 4th affidavit to impeachment committee

(2-14) Burris comes cleans
(2-14) Burris questioner Jim Durkin doesn’t buy it

(2-15) Feb 15th press conference re: (2-4) affidavit (text)
(2-15) Feb 15th press conference re: (2-4) affidavit (video)

Rep Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), a member of the Impeachment Panel questioned Roland Burris about his possible contacts with Blagojevich about quid pro quo. He asked Burris specifically about Rob Blagojevich, John Harris, Lon Monk, Doug Scofield and John Wyma. Burris admitted only to talking with Monk, which he now admits is a lie. Well he doesn’t admit that - he says he didn’t get a chance to clarify things. Needless to say Durkin is pist and wants an independent to investigate possible perjury charges. Just what The People of Illinois need to pay for.

Burris also said that before the November election he spoke to Ed Smith, a Downstate labor leader and longtime Blagojevich supporter who had significant sway in the governor’s administration.

DURKIN: I can’t believe anything that comes out of Roland Burris’s mouth any more. I just don’t know how to reconcile this. I don’t accept that this is a lapse in memory.

How would you forget talking to the governor’s brother? This is the third variation of him describing his relationship with the governor and the circumstances of his appointment.

This wasn’t a couple of questions that I can understand someone may forget, it goes way beyond that.

To say that he wasn’t given the opportunity to explain himself is a load of B.S.

I don’t know what hearing he was at. No one stopped Mr. Burris from explaining himself.

He said he is going to ask the now-dormant impeachment committee to refer the matter to Sangamon County State’s Atty. John Schmidt (Republican). And he’s going to team up with House Republican Leader Tom Cross of Oswego to recommend an independent investigation because the Republicans have no confidence the Democratic-led General Assembly would do a credible probe.

Burris sent the affidavit to the chairwoman of the impeachment committee, Rep BARBARA FLYNN CURRIE:

We’ll look at it. I’m not at this point prepared to say there’s something wrong. He has consistently said there wasn’t pay to play.

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