The FBI tape raises more questions about the appointment of Sen. Roland Burris. The big question will be whether Burris can survive all this and remain in the Senate. It only seems to get uglier.
BY NATASHA KORECKI
Chicago Sun-Times
CHICAGO — In a Nov. 13 conversation recorded by the FBI, Roland Burris told Rod Blagojevich’s brother he feared he’d “catch hell,” with the public if he gave the governor money at the same time he was lobbying for a Senate seat appointment.
Still, Burris ends the call with a promise: “I will personally do something OK? And it will come to you before the 15th of December.”
Such a promise of money is something Burris did not disclose to an Illinois House impeachment panel in sworn testimony after Rod Blagojevich appointed him to the U.S. Senate.
The revelation comes as a transcript of a conversation between Burris and Robert Blagojevich were unsealed by Chief U.S. District Judge James Holderman today, at the request of a U.S. Senate ethics panel investigating Burris.
Burris, a Chicago Democrat who Rod Blagojevich appointed to the Senate seat Dec. 30, can be heard repeatedly expressing worry that a donation to the governor would look like he’s trying to buy the seat. Burris tells Robert Blagojevich: “I’m in a dilemma right now, wanting to help the governor.”
