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)
Well Senator Burris has gone under a little more scrutiny since he has both he and barry have been sworn in and the ooops I didn't get a chance to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth...as far as pay to play.
He had initially joked that there wasn't any pay to play involved cuz he doesn't have any money.
In his Jan 6th written affidavit to the Impeachment Committee he swore that there was no contact between him or any of his representatives with Blago or any of his representatives regarding the Senate appointment, prior to Dec 26th, when he met with a Blago attorney.
In his Jan 8th sworn testimony before the impeachment committee he said that he had no conversations with blago about the senate seat before blago was arrested on Dec 9th but that he had told Lon Monk (ex-blago chief of staff, now lobbyist) he was interested in the position sometime during the summer. Lon Monk is also under federal investigation.
In his Feb 4th (voluntarily submitted) amended affidavit to the impeachment committee:
BURRIS: There were several facts that I was not given the opportunity to make during my testimony to the impeachment committee, so, upon receiving the transcripts, I voluntarily submitted an affidavit so everything was transparent.
Anyone getting tired of that word transparent? And why was he not given the opportunity to make them? Why now is he coming forth with the truth? Because he was forced to by the FBI wiretaps?
Burris' lawyer, TIMOTHY WRIGHT III, said in a cover letter Burris answered "truthfully and to the best of his recollection," but that the "fluid nature" of the questioning and a review of the transcript showed Burris that he "was unable to fully respond to several matters.
Feb 4th affidavit - hDuring the first conversation I asked Rob Blagojevich what was going on with the selection of a successor if then-Senator Obama were elected President, and he said he had heard my name mentioned in the discussionsIn his Feb 13th statement accompanying the release of the Feb 4th affidavit:
BURRIS: I was asked to raise money by the governor's brother and made it unequivocally clear to him that it would be inappropriate and pose a major conflict because I was interested in the Senate vacancy. I did not donate or help raise a single dollar for the governor from those conversations and would never consider making a donation through a third party.
He also said he spoke with Doug Scofield and John Wyma about the seat during a fundraiser in June - the last time Burris had participated in blago fundraising - and then later with John Harris Blago's chief of staff. Harris was arrested with blago.
Recall that during his sworn impeachment hearing testimony, he was specifically asked about, Rob Blagojevich, Scofield, Wyma and Harris. He said no - just Lon Monk.
AP: A log of Harris' calls released to The Associated Press by the governor's office indicates Burris called Harris four times in November — the last time on Nov. 26, when the log indicates the two spoke. Burris' affidavit says he had called Harris to recommend his nephew for a state job and during the conversation asked about the Senate seat.
Which is worse?
Burris had three requirements to getting sworn in as senator:
Get Jesse White's signature or have the Illinois Supreme Court make a ruling.
Go before the Impeachment panel (and tell the truth).
Pass muster with the Senate Rules Committee.
Harry Reid's famous last words:
Roland Burris, to me, appears to be candid and forthright.
Without any hesitation, he prepared an affidavit that the impeachment committee for the Illinois state assembly already has. (His Jan 6th version.)
And he's going to go answer any other questions they might have. (His Jan 8th version.)
He's not trying to avoid any responsibility or trying to hide anything. (Feb 4th version.)
We want to do what we can do to make sure that everything has been done in the Blagojevich hours is transparent.
Transparency achieved (?) with his Feb 13th statement.
Business as usual.
AP: A spokesman said Reid was reviewing the affidavit, and a spokeswoman for Durbin said he had no comment Saturday. The White House also had no comment.
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