Illinois Prosecutor Reviews Burriss Statements to Lawmakers

February 18th, 2009|Editor
State

Blagojevich was removed from office for abuse of power a month after he appointed Burris, a fellow Democrat, to President Barack Obamas former seat. State lawmakers say Burris, 71, altered his account of how he got the job, and the U.S. Senate Ethics committee yesterday said it would conduct its own review.

“He was destined to have a difficult primary and now that is a guarantee,” said Jennifer Duffy, editor of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report newsletter. Burris faces an election for the seat in 2010. “The chances of him surviving it have diminished,” Duffy said.

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan yesterday referred questions about Burriss statements to Sangamon County prosecutor John Schmidt amid reports that the senator said Feb. 16 that he tried to raise money for Blagojevich some time after an October discussion with the former governors brother and chief fundraiser, Rob Blagojevich.

Rod Blagojevich, 52, was impeached by the Illinois House Jan. 9 and removed from office by the Senate three weeks later after a trial in which he was accused of abusing his power.

Chicago U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in December filed criminal charges against Blagojevich, accusing him of trying to trade Obamas U.S. Senate seat for campaign cash or other favors. The ex-governor has said hes innocent of the charges.

Peoria Comments

In an impromptu meeting with reporters after a political dinner in Peoria last night, Burris, a Democrat, said he tried to raise money for Blagojevich sometime between conversations with the former governors brother before and after the Nov. 4 U.S. presidential election, the Chicago Tribune reported yesterday.

Burris said that, while he was unsuccessful in organizing a fundraiser for the governor, he and his partner in the Chicago- based consulting firm Burris & Lebed, might be able to raise $1,000 from other sources, according to the newspapers report.

The senator later had a third conversation in which he told the ex-governors brother he couldnt involve himself in fundraising because of his interest in the Obama seat.

Jason Erkes, a spokesman for the senator, didnt immediately return voice-mail and e-mail messages seeking comment on the Tribune report. Burriss attorney, Timothy Wright of Chicago, also didnt immediately return a call seeking comment.

Bill Burton, an Obama spokesman, declined to comment on yesterdays reports on Burris.

“The matter is under review by this office,” the prosecutor, Schmidt, said, confirming the House speakers referral. Springfield, the state capital, is located in Sangamon County.

Natalie Ravitz, a spokeswoman for U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat, confirmed the federal ethics inquiry.

“Whenever allegations of improper conduct are brought to the attention of the Senate Ethics Committee, we open a preliminary inquiry,” Ravitz said in an e-mail.

“I encouraged the Sangamon County states attorney to take a closer look at this in the interest of truth, integrity and transparency,” Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, a Democrat, said in a statement. She said she is “pleased” that Schmidt is reviewing the issue.

Proper Thing

House speaker Madigan, the attorney generals father, is also the states Democratic Party leader. “We arent calling on anybody to do anything,” the Chicago representatives spokesman, Steve Brown, said of the referral to Schmidt. “It was just the proper thing to do.”

Brown declined to comment on calls for Burris to resign.

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