Perjury charges sought after Burris fundraising revelation

Stephen C. Webster Published: Tuesday February 17, 2009
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Sen. Roland Burris, appointed by now impeached Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, is under fire by state lawmakers for what they believe to be inconsistencies in testimony and sworn affidavits. The perceived discrepancies are great enough that on Tuesday, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan referred Burris’ testimony to prosecutors for consideration of perjury charges.

The specter of a perjury investigation was raised only after Sen. Burris admitted Monday night that at the same time he was being considered for President Obama's former Senate seat, he attempted to arrange a fundraiser for the embattled governor. Burris said he gave up and deemed it inappropriate, but only after he'd failed to attract contributors.

"Madigan released a letter to Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Schmidt indicating he was referring a transcript of Burris’ testimony and two affidavits Burris submitted on how he got appointed to the Senate by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich," reported the Rockford Register Star.

"Burris told the committee in January he hadn’t had contact with key Blagojevich staffers or offered anything in return for the seat."

However, on Monday night Burris admitted attempting to organize the fundraiser at the request of the governor's brother, Robert.

"In comments to reporters after appearing at a Democratic dinner, the senator several times contradicted his latest under-oath affidavit that he quietly filed with the Illinois House impeachment panel earlier this month," reported the Chicago Tribune. "That affidavit was itself an attempt to clean up his live, sworn testimony to the panel Jan. 8, when he omitted his contacts with several Blagojevich insiders."

"Burris said prior to his final conversation with Robert Blagojevich in November he came to the conclusion that because of his interest in the Senate seat, he couldn’t raise money for the governor," the paper said.

"In a letter filed Feb. 5 with his latest affidavit, Burris said, 'I did not donate or help raise a single dollar for the Governor from those conversations.' But Burris didn't reveal that he tried to put a fundraiser together for Blagojevich--and failed because of a lack of donors--before deeming it inappropriate."

Sen. Burris' plight was put before two former prosecutors by the Chicago Sun Times on Tuesday afternoon, and each rendered differing opinions of the possible case for perjury.

"I don't see how this doesn't get a serious look by an experienced, independent prosecutor," Patrick Collins, a former federal prosecutor told the paper.

"Former Cook County prosecutor Irv Miller said he wouldn't approve perjury charges if the case were brought to him," the Times continued. "There may be inconsistencies in Burris' statements, but key questions put to Burris by a House impeachment panel were asked in meandering fashion, rather than the specific, 'Isn't-it-a-fact?' style of a prosecutor, he said."

"They couldn't prove it beyond a reasonable doubt," Miller said.

"Burris would not answer questions Tuesday in Peoria about his attempts to raise funds for Blagojevich, but said he didn't do anything wrong and encouraged officials to look into the matter," reported the Associated Press.

"I welcome the opportunity to go before any and all investigative bodies, including those referred by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and the Senate ethics committee to answer any questions they have," Sen. Burris reportedly said.