Sen Burris receives Letter of Public Admonition from Ethics Committee

November 20, 2009

The Senate Ethics Committee has finally made a judgment in the investigation of Senator Burris’ possible perjury in relation to barry’s senate seat. They cleared him of any wrongdoing but issued a public letter of qualified admonition.

It ranks in the middle of sanctions after a private letter of admonition, private letter of qualified admonition and expulsion and censure.

They made sure to include the specifics as a way of embarrassing him so that he’d think twice about his vote on the healthcare bill. He’s holding out for a public option. It’s not a coincidence the committee made their pronouncement just prior to the test vote.

What’s interesting is they looked right past the real pay to play: Burris paid barry for his senate seat. Burris’ lawyer and long time friend and partner donated $50K to barry’s inauguration. It doesn’t get much clearer than that.

Sen Burris statement re: Senate admonishment

Pertinent quotes from the letter:

After an extensive investigation, the Select Committee on Ethics is issuing you this Public Letter of Qualified Admonition for actions and statements that reflected unfavorably on the Senate in connection with your appoint to and seating in the Senate.

The committee found that you should have known that you were providing incorrect, inconsistent, misleading or incomplete information to the public, the Senate and those conducting legitimate inquiries into your appointment to the Senate.

…the Committee did not find that the evidence before it supported any actionable violations of law…

Underlining and bold theirs – link added.

Your sworn affidavit and sworn testimony before the Illinois House of Representatives were incosistent, incomplete and misleading.

Your shifting explanations about your sworn statements appear less than candid.

Your November 13, 2008 call with Robert Blagojevich, while not raising to an explicit level of quid pro quo, was inappropriate.

Letter posted to Scrib by Chicago Tribune.

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Public letter of Qualified admonition

Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Mark L Pryor (D-AR)
Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Vice Chair Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
Pat Roberts (R-KS)
James E Risch (R-ID)

Their signatures are very interesting. It’s clear that Sen Risch thinks awfully highly of himself.

Source: Chicago Breaking News

Tags: perjury, president obama, public letter of qualified admonition, robert blagojevich, rod blagojevich, Select Committee on Ethics, senator barbara boxer, Senator James E Risch, Senator Johnny Isakson, Senator Mark L Pryor, Senator Pat Roberts, senator roland burris, Senator Sherrod Brown

Sen Burris statement re: Senate admonishment

November 20, 2009

Senator Burris statement re: Senate Ethics Committee findings and Public Letter of Admonition:

I am pleased that after numerous investigations, this matter has finally come to a close. I thank the members of the Senate Ethics Committee for their fair and thorough review of this matter, and now look forward to continuing the important work ahead on behalf of the people of Illinois.

Tags: perjury, president obama, public letter of qualified admonition, robert blagojevich, rod blagojevich, roland burris, roland burris affidavit, Select Committee on Ethics, senate ethics committee, senator barbara boxer, Senator James E Risch, Senator Johnny Isakson, Senator Mark L Pryor, Senator Pat Roberts, senator roland burris, Senator Sherrod Brown

Audio/Text Roland Burris – Rob Blagojevich wiretap

May 27, 2009

Audio and transcript of Roland Burris’ November 13, 2008 telephone conversation with Rod Blagojevich. They discuss fundraising with Rob letting Burris talk and Burris saying he wants to help Rod but it’ll look like play to play. And that if Burris has a fundraiser – it will look like he bought it. But if he doesn’t get – the folks who he raised the money from will be upset.

Nothing in here is damning as far as Blago and pay to play. Something else far worse – yes. The problem with this tape surfacing is a) Burris didn’t mention anything until after he was seated – including in his original affidavit; b) he was adamant about it; c) he submitted a supplemental affidavit only after he knew (despite protest otherwise) there was a recording of him; and d) his ever-evolving story even after the affidavit.

There wasn’t anything technically perjurious about his testimony (video/text) before the Blago impeachment committee either. It just looks bad.

He “tainted” himself.

And what he did say could lead to some serious trouble and not necessarily to him. If anyone ever becomes interested in connecting the dots that are so blatantly obvious, they might just see how pay to play really works.

Transcript provided by Chicago Tribune

Click top right for full page or zoom to read and listen at the same time.

Phone conversation audio starts on page 12 and ends page 15.

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Relevant transcript.

Here’s a short clip where he clearly “evades” Jim Durkin’s question saying he only talks with Lon Mon.

progressillinois

Here he denies it to a different questioner.

djohnsto77

There wasn’t anyone else besides Lon Monk?

No.

Roland Burris – Rob Blagojevich tape to be released

May 26, 2009

Haven’t heard much about Senator Burris except for that emergency landing. Now he’s completely out from under the radar. US District Chief Judge James Holderman ruled that a taped conversation between Burris and Rob Blagojevich (Rod’s brother and campaign finance man) be released to the Senate Ethics Committee. A conversation that reportedly has Burris saying he’s going to write Blagojevich a “fundraising” check.

Remember the “Certainly no pay-to-play involved ‘cuz I don’t have no money!”?

Why aren’t they looking at the check Burris’ lawyer wrote to barry?

Rod Blagojevich arraignment tomorrow (4-13)

April 13, 2009

Blago and his fundraiser brother, Rob are expected to enter a not guilty plea when they are arraigned tomorrow in federal court.

William Cellini, former Blagojevich chief of staff, John Harris, and Christopher Kelly, who is cooperating with the Feds will be arraigned Thursday.

Previous Chief of Staff Lon Monk, who is also cooperating with Feds is set to be arraigned April 24.

Blago was initially arrested on December 9th for conspiracy to sell barry's senate seat. Nobody cares that Burris bought it from barry for $50K. Milorad was formally indicted April 2nd on 19 counts of political corruption including conspiracy, racketeering and wire fraud. Two of his lawyers have already quit and the judge has not yet ruled whether he will be able to use the $2M he has in his war chest.

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Blagojevich indicted on 19 counts
DOJ Press release announcing indictment
Blago: Fact sheet
Blago: Indictment
Blagojevich statement
Did Burris buy his senate seat directly from barry?
Blagojevich enters not guilty plea
Blagojevich on Reality TV?

Blagojevich statement re: indictment

April 2, 2009

Rod Blagojevich is at Disneyland with his family. Written statement provided by his publicist, Glenn Selig.

BLAGOJEVICH: I’m saddened and hurt but I am not surprised by the indictment. I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name. I would ask the good people of Illinois to wait for the trial and afford me the presumption of innocence that they would give to all their friends and neighbors.

The governor is not in Chicago and will not be doing any interviews. He is spending family time with his wife and kids during spring break. They ask that you respect their privacy.

Blagojevich was indicted on 19 counts of political corruption including: fraud, conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion, attempted extortion, false statements and racketeering.

John Harris is cooperating with the Feds and is charged with only one count of wire fraud.

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Blagojevich indicted on 19 counts
DOJ Press release announcing indictment
Blago: Fact sheet
Blago: Indictment
Blagojevich statement

DOJ Press release re: Blagojevich indictment

April 2, 2009

DOJ Press release announcing indictment of Rod and Rob Blagojevich, John Harris, Lon Monk, Chris Kelly and William Cellini. Includes a run down of the players and the charges.

Blagojevich was indicted on 19 counts of political corruption including: fraud, conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion, attempted extortion, false statements and racketeering.

John Harris is cooperating with the Feds and is charged with only one count of wire fraud.

Click top right to read magnified or full screen.

Provided by the Chicago Tribune.

View this document on Scribd

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Blagojevich indicted on 19 counts
DOJ Press release announcing indictment
Blago: Fact sheet
Blago: Indictment
Blagojevich statement

Blagojevich: indictment fact sheet

April 2, 2009

Facts of the case as provided by the Chicago Tribune re: Rod Blagojevich’s indictment on 19 counts of political corruption including: fraud, conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion, attempted extortion, false statements and racketeering.

Rob Blagojevich, John Harris, Lon Monk Chris Kelly and William Cellini. Includes a run down of the players and the charges. Blagojevich was indicted on 19 counts of political corruption including: fraud, conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion, attempted extortion, false statements and racketeering.

John Harris is cooperating with the Feds and is charged with only one count of wire fraud.

Click top right to read magnified or full screen.

View this document on Scribd

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Blagojevich indicted on 19 counts
DOJ Press release announcing indictment
Fact sheet
Indictment