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Pressure To Resign Mounts For Burris
By Joe Murray, The Bulletin
Once defiant in his commitment to fill the problem-laden seat vacated by Barack Obama, Roland Burris is facing increased pressure to resign the seat as his fellow Senators opened an ethics investigation amidst revelations he was connected to disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
“A cloud of corruption has hung over our state and its leaders for too long. The impeachment and removal of former Gov. Blagojevich was a step in the right direction. But just as it looked like a new era in Illinois politics was possible, we suffer yet another setback. It is like a recurring nightmare,” said U.S. Rep. Phil Hare, D-Ill. Mr. Hare was among the first congressmen to publicly call on Mr. Burris to step down.
On Monday night in Peoria, Ill., Mr. Burris told reporters that prior to his appointment to Mr. Obama’s vacant seat he had had conversations with Mr. Blagojevich’s brother. The conversations broached the subject of Mr. Burris raising money for Mr. Blagojevich.
The news immediately raised eyebrows because Mr. Blagojevich was charged with attempting to sell Mr. Obama’s seat to the highest bidder. Prior to his impeachment, Mr. Blagojevich appointed Mr. Burris despite calls for him to step down and permit the lieutenant governor to make an appointment free from the perception of corruption.
Many state and federal lawmakers, including Mr. Obama, decried the appointment, arguing Mr. Burris would not be able to emerge from Mr. Blagojevich’s cloud of corruption. Mr. Burris’ Monday night revelations provide such a point.
“Given this latest revelation, I believe it is in the best interest of all Illinoisans that Sen. Burris resigns,” Mr. Hare said. “Our state and its citizens deserve the whole truth, not bits and pieces only when it is convenient.”
While overseas with a congressional delegation, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., a member of the Democratic leadership, confirmed “the Ethics Committee of the Senate is undertaking an investigation.”
“That is the appropriate thing at this point,” Mr. Durbin said, adding Mr. Burris’ comments “have raised questions which need to be looked at very carefully, as to the nature of his relationship with the former governor and the circumstances surrounding his appointment.”
The revelations caused many to question whether Mr. Burris delivered truthful testimony during his confirmation hearing. Both Mr. Durbin and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., had resisted the push to seat Mr. Burris, but conditioned the decision to seat the lawmaker on the truthfulness of his testimony.
Withholding final judgment, the veteran Democratic lawmaker raised some question as to the longevity of Mr. Burris’ career in the Senate.
“I am troubled by this, and I hope he will call in some advisers he trusts and gets some advice about what to do next,” Mr. Durbin said. “At this point, his future in the Senate seat is in question.”
Mr. Burris defended himself Wednesday, reaffirming his position telling the City Club of Chicago he did nothing wrong.
“If I had done the things I’ve been accused of, I would be too embarrassed to stand up here in front of all of you because you are my friends,” Mr. Burris said. “I ask you today to stop the rush to judgment. You know the real Roland. I’ve done nothing wrong, and I have absolutely nothing to hide.”
While the White House has not joined in the calls for his resignation, it also fell short of showing signs of support.
"Obviously Sen. Burris was seated based in some way on the representations that he made to the U.S. Senate and to the committee in Illinois investigating Gov. Blagojevich, and as well in interviews that the people of Illinois heard,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said, according to the pool report.
“I think that the people of Illinois deserve to know based on some of the things that have happened over the past few days, deserve to know the full extent of any involvement [between Burris and Blagojevich].”
Mr. Gibbs did say he would not get out in front of the investigation.
Joe Murray can be reached at jmurray@thebulletin.us
“A cloud of corruption has hung over our state and its leaders for too long. The impeachment and removal of former Gov. Blagojevich was a step in the right direction. But just as it looked like a new era in Illinois politics was possible, we suffer yet another setback. It is like a recurring nightmare,” said U.S. Rep. Phil Hare, D-Ill. Mr. Hare was among the first congressmen to publicly call on Mr. Burris to step down.
On Monday night in Peoria, Ill., Mr. Burris told reporters that prior to his appointment to Mr. Obama’s vacant seat he had had conversations with Mr. Blagojevich’s brother. The conversations broached the subject of Mr. Burris raising money for Mr. Blagojevich.
The news immediately raised eyebrows because Mr. Blagojevich was charged with attempting to sell Mr. Obama’s seat to the highest bidder. Prior to his impeachment, Mr. Blagojevich appointed Mr. Burris despite calls for him to step down and permit the lieutenant governor to make an appointment free from the perception of corruption.
Many state and federal lawmakers, including Mr. Obama, decried the appointment, arguing Mr. Burris would not be able to emerge from Mr. Blagojevich’s cloud of corruption. Mr. Burris’ Monday night revelations provide such a point.
“Given this latest revelation, I believe it is in the best interest of all Illinoisans that Sen. Burris resigns,” Mr. Hare said. “Our state and its citizens deserve the whole truth, not bits and pieces only when it is convenient.”
While overseas with a congressional delegation, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., a member of the Democratic leadership, confirmed “the Ethics Committee of the Senate is undertaking an investigation.”
“That is the appropriate thing at this point,” Mr. Durbin said, adding Mr. Burris’ comments “have raised questions which need to be looked at very carefully, as to the nature of his relationship with the former governor and the circumstances surrounding his appointment.”
The revelations caused many to question whether Mr. Burris delivered truthful testimony during his confirmation hearing. Both Mr. Durbin and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., had resisted the push to seat Mr. Burris, but conditioned the decision to seat the lawmaker on the truthfulness of his testimony.
Withholding final judgment, the veteran Democratic lawmaker raised some question as to the longevity of Mr. Burris’ career in the Senate.
“I am troubled by this, and I hope he will call in some advisers he trusts and gets some advice about what to do next,” Mr. Durbin said. “At this point, his future in the Senate seat is in question.”
Mr. Burris defended himself Wednesday, reaffirming his position telling the City Club of Chicago he did nothing wrong.
“If I had done the things I’ve been accused of, I would be too embarrassed to stand up here in front of all of you because you are my friends,” Mr. Burris said. “I ask you today to stop the rush to judgment. You know the real Roland. I’ve done nothing wrong, and I have absolutely nothing to hide.”
While the White House has not joined in the calls for his resignation, it also fell short of showing signs of support.
"Obviously Sen. Burris was seated based in some way on the representations that he made to the U.S. Senate and to the committee in Illinois investigating Gov. Blagojevich, and as well in interviews that the people of Illinois heard,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said, according to the pool report.
“I think that the people of Illinois deserve to know based on some of the things that have happened over the past few days, deserve to know the full extent of any involvement [between Burris and Blagojevich].”
Mr. Gibbs did say he would not get out in front of the investigation.
Joe Murray can be reached at jmurray@thebulletin.us
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