No perjury charges for Senator Burris

recovered missing post

June 19, 2009

Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Schmidt — although Burris’ statements were vague, they didn’t support a perjury charge. Maybe not. But from his subsequent revelations, it’s clear he knew what he was doing in not answering. He was asked specific names. Jim Durkin deserves the blame for not making him give an answer to each name.

JOHN SCHMIDT letter to Michael Madigan:

Moreover, an individual does not commit perjury if he corrects the known falsity before the adjournment of the tribunal. This provision accomplishes the legislative intent of the law of perjury which is to get complete and truthful information before the tribunal.

….These were not substantive discussions concerning how to get the appointment, but rather Sen. Burris imploring the listener to tell Gov. Blagojevich he was interested.

…Burris’ responses cannot support a perjury charge. He said he could not recall anyone specific because there were many individuals urging him to run. The answer was
incomplete, but that is not perjury given the form of the questions.

…The two affidavits signed by Senator Burris dated January 5, 2009 and February 4, 2009 are not inconsistent, thus do not support a perjury charge. The January 5, 2009 affidavit only describes the actual appointment process of Governor Blagojevich appointing Roland Burris to the vacant senate seat. It is insufficient to support perjury charges based upon Burris’ testimony before the House Impeachment Committee.

The February 4, 2009 affidavit was requested by the Committee and filed to supplement Burris’ testimony. This affidavit does not support perjury charges based upon Senator Bums’ answers to the House Committee. This affidavit supplements and expands answers while the tribunal was still convened. It should be noted the affidavit was filed with the Special Committee long before Senator Burris knew his conversation with Robert Blagojevich was captured on tape. This fact supports Senator Burris’ claim the affidavit was meant to supplement the record while the tribunal was in sessi

In sum, based upon our review of the facts and the applicable law, there is insufficient evidence to charge Senator Roland Burris with perjury.

SENATOR BURRIS:

I am obviously very pleased with today’s decision by State’s Attorney John Schmidt. His investigation was both thorough and fair, and I am glad that the truth has prevailed. This matter has now been fully investigated; I cooperated at every phase of the process, and as I have said from the beginning, I have never engaged in any pay-to-play, never perjured myself, and came to this seat in an honest and legal way. Today’s announcement confirms all that.

Burris: Son got state job from blago in September

February 29, 2009

I sure would like to know to where these posts disappear. I had posted on this 2 days ago but can’t find it now.

Roland Burris is under the specter of a nepotism pay-to-play, which is SOP in Chicago, ala Mayor Daley, Todd Stroger and Lisa Madigan.

If barry wants to balance the budget all he has to do is do a background tax check on all politicians and government employees all the way down to state and city awarded contracts.

Roland Burris’ son Roland Burris II, who worked together with his dad at the law firm: Burris, Wright, Slaughter & Tom, was appointed to a blago administration job during the time period his dad was actively seeking barry’s senate seat.

He was given the job of senior counsel for the Illinois Housing Development Authority ($75K/yr), whose main function is to oversee mortgage programs for low-income home buyers and anti-foreclosure initiatives.

Complication being he has a little tax and mortgage problem of his own.

July 2008: Unpaid taxes in 2004, 2005 and 2006 led to a $34,163 lien.

August: He got hit with a foreclosure suit. In July 2006, he bought a house with a $372,000 mortgage and since the has only paid back $3K. Balance due = $406,685.

September 10th he was given the job.

Why nobody figured this out till now is the mystery. His son was brought up in the appointment press conference. What was the Impeachment Committee, Lisa Madigan or Pat Quinn doing?

JIM DURKIN, who did the crappy questioning resulting in Burris’ swearing in:

The fact that Burris II faces foreclosure but is working at a housing-related state agency “reeks of hypocrisy. It’s probably not the area where he [Burris II] should be counseling Illinois citizens on how to stave off foreclosure. I guess it just begs the question: Why was he placed there, and to what extent did Sen. Burris have conversations regarding the placement?

It begs the question: What Cabinet position has Burris II qualified for?

SOURCE: Sun Times’ Chris Fusco, Tim Novak & Dave McKinney

Burris: "I have made an effort to be as transparent as I can"

February 17, 2009

Transcript of Sen Burris' comments in Peoria today. [emphasis added]

"Members of the press, I will have a prepared text, and I will not be responding to questions.

I have made an effort to be as transparent as I can, and I'm willing to take a further step as I have nothing to hide.

"I welcome the opportunity to go before any and all investigative bodies, including those referred by Illinois Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan and the Senate Ethics Committee to answer any questions they have.

"In fact, earlier today, one of my advisers placed a call to the Sangamon County State's Atty. John Schmidt in an attempt to inform them that I welcome the opportunity to meet with him to review the facts in this matter and provide (a) full and complete account of my actions, statements and contacts.

I look forward to sitting down with the federal officials and addressing this with them, and I support having any other body or agency look into my testimony, as it was truthful and consistent.

There were never any inappropriate conversations between me and anyone else.

And I will answer any and all questions to get that point across to keep my faith with the citizens of Illinois. We are working on a concise document that will be provided to the public later this week.
Thank you very much, and God bless each and every one of you all in the media."

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.