Burris Should Think About Statements, Future, Obama Aide Says
“The people of Illinois have been through a very trying time,” Gibbs told reporters at a briefing yesterday in Washington. “The president is supportive of an investigation that would get some full story out.”
Earlier yesterday, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn called on Burris, a Democrat, to resign as a result of the furor over discrepancies in his statements about contacts with former Governor Rod Blagojevich and the governors advisers before he got the Senate appointment.
Quinn, who took office last month after Blagojevichs impeachment and removal, told a Chicago press conference that Burris should “put the interests of the people of Illinois ahead of his own.” Quinn said it wasnt in the public interest to have a senator “going over and over matters with respect to how he obtained the office.”
Blagojevich named Burris to replace President Barack Obama in the Senate on Dec. 30, three weeks after the then-governor was charged with trying to trade that vacancy for campaign cash or other favors. Blagojevich has said he is innocent. Blagojevich and Quinn are both Democrats.
Take Some Time
“It might be important for Senator Burris to take some time this weekend to either correct what has been said, and certainly think of what lays in his future,” Gibbs said.
Asked whether Burris lied, Gibbs said: “Thats a question for Mr. Burris.”
A former state attorney general, Burris faces a U.S. Senate ethics committee inquiry and a state prosecutors investigation into whether he lied in two affidavits or in sworn testimony before an Illinois House impeachment panel on Jan. 8. Burris was sworn in on Jan. 15.
Jim OConnor, a spokesman for the 71-year-old Democratic senator, repeated Burriss request two days ago that the public and government officials “stop the rush to judgment.” OConnor said Burris “promised to cooperate fully” with the investigations.
Two days ago, Burris told a Chicago civic and business leaders luncheon audience he had done nothing wrong and had “nothing to hide.”
Also yesterday, Burriss interim chief of staff, Darrel Thompson, said in a statement he is returning to his prior position as senior adviser to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. Reids office had no comment on Burris.
Quinn said Senate vacancies should be filled by a temporary appointment followed by a special election, as a Democratic state lawmaker has proposed.
Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias joined Quinns call for the senators resignation.
“The situation has become toxic and only serves as a sideshow during a time when lawmakers should be addressing the financial crisis,” Giannoulias, a fellow Democrat, said in a statement. The senators statements have been “misleading at best,” he said.
Burriss first affidavit, given to a House panel considering impeachment charges against Blagojevich on Jan. 5, said he had no contact with anyone from the governors office regarding the Senate seat until he was contacted by a Blagojevich lawyer on Dec. 26.
Lobbyist
While testifying before that committee on Jan. 8, he said he also discussed the post with lobbyist Lon Monk, the ex- governors former chief of staff.
In a Feb. 4 affidavit made public 10 days later, Burris said he also spoke at least three times with the governors brother and campaign finance committee chairman, Rob Blagojevich, about raising money for the now-former chief executive.
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