February 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)
PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT of Burris' testimony before the Illinois House Impeachment Panel
Rep. Jim Durkin: Prior to his arrest, did you have any conversations with the governor about your desire to be appointed to the seat?
Roland Burris: No.
Durkin: OK. Did you talk to any members of the governor's staff or anyone closely related to the governor, including with family members or any lobbyists connected with him, including oh, let me throw out some names: John Harris, Rob Blagojevich, Doug Scofield, Bob Greenlee, Lon Monk, John Wyma? Did you talk to anybody who was associated with the governor about your desire to seek the appointment prior to the governor's arrest?
Burris (confers with his attorney off-mic and says): I talked to some friends about my desire to be appointed, yes.
Durkin: I guess the point is I was trying to ask: Did you speak to anybody who was on the governor's staff prior to the governor's arrest or anybody, any of those individuals or anybody who was closely related to the governor?
Burris (again confers with attorney and says): I recall having a meeting with Lon Monk about my partner and I trying to get continued business and I did bring it up, it must have been in September-maybe it was in July of '08 and you know, 'If you're close to the governor, well let him know that I will feel certainly interested in the seat.'"
Durkin: OK.
(Later in the hearing)
Durkin: At any time were you directly or indirectly aware of a quid pro quo with the governor for the appointment of this vacant Senate seat?
Burris: No sir.
Durkin: Ok. If you were aware of a quid pro quo, what would you have done?
(Burris's lawyer calls it a hypothetical question and inappropriate. Durkin calls it "highly relevant" and what his response would have been. Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) says his response to something that did not occur was "irrelevant" and "speculative." Durkin says its "germane" to the hearing and a "reasonable request" of what he would have done. Burris' lawyer says Burris will respond because he wants to be "clear and open.")
Burris: Rep. Durkin, knowing my ethics, I would not participate in anybody's quid pro quo. I've been in government for 20 years and never participated in anybody's quid pro quo.
Durkin: I guess the point is, would you have gone to the federal authorities if you were aware of that?
Burris: I have no response to that.
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