Three weeks after being arrested for conspiring to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat in exchange for wide-ranging personal benefits, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced today the appointment of former Illinois attorney general and current state lobbyist Roland Burris to the vacant seat.
"As governor, I am required to make this appointment," Blagojevich said at a news conference this afternoon. "[Burris] will be a great United States senator."
"Do not let the allegations against me taint this good and honest man," Blagojevich continued.
Burris declined to comment on the governor’s criminal case at the news conference other than to say, "You're innocent until proven guilty."
In 2002, Burris helped form Burris & Lebed Consulting LLC, which currently lobbies for cable giant Comcast, among five other clients, state records show. Burris also has donated $4,500 to Blagojevich's campaign committee over the years, including a $1,000 donation this June.
Last year, Burris' firm lobbied for power utility Commonwealth Edison Company and the Illinois Association of Mortgage Brokers. The firm in 2007 lobbied the state legislature and Blagojevich's office, records show.
Burris also is senior counsel to the law firm of Gonzalez, Saggio and Harlan LLC. That firm's Web site says Burris serves on the board of directors of the Inland Real Estate Corp., a nearly $2 billion real estate investment trust that owns retail shopping centers mostly in the Midwest.
Lately, Burris seems to have been lobbying hardest for himself. Even after Blagojevich's arrest, Burris sought to win the governor's support for the appointment, the Chicago Tribune reports. "With my knowledge and experience of Illinois and the U.S. Senate -- I know a third of the senators currently serving -- I would go in there hitting the ground running with an agenda for Illinois and an agenda the president-elect wants to carry out across America," Burris said earlier this month.
At today's news conference, Burris said he is "proud of my accomplishments as a public servant." Blagojevich offered him the position on Sunday, he said.
Burris lost to Blagojevich in the 2002 gubernatorial Democratic primary. He later served as vice chair of the governor's transition team. He also was vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee from 1985 to 1989.
We left a message for Burris at his lobbying firm’s office and will post an update if we hear back.
Blagojevich's decision to appoint Burris was made in defiance of U.S. congressional Democratic leaders who warned they would refuse to seat anyone appointed by the embattled governor. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) released a statement today saying, "Under these circumstances, anyone appointed by Gov. Blagojevich cannot be an effective representative of the people of Illinois and, as we have said, will not be seated by the Democratic Caucus."
Blagojevich said today that he had "no doubt" the Senate will seat Burris.
But it might not even come to that. The Associated Press is reporting that Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White said he'll reject any paperwork that Gov. Rod Blagojevich files to name a new U.S. senator. The secretary of state certifies official state actions.
Reprinted from ProPublia under Creative Commons.
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