According to the Chicago Sun Times, Former U.S. Senator, Rod Blagojevich's brother requested nearly $10,000 in campaign funds prior to Sen. Roland Burris' appointment to his his current post as U.S. Senator from Illinois.
Burris, 71, who holds a J.D. from Howard, apparently neglected to disclose this information prior to being seated as senator when he appeared before an Illinois House impeachment panel.
Burris does not deny being asked for campaign financing and admits to the act in a new affidavit he sent to the same House committee that recommended Blagojevich's impeachment. And he acknowledges having conversations with Robert Blagojevich, the head of Rod Blagojevich's campaign fund.
Not surprisingly, Burris does not admit any wrongdoing. The Sun Times reports Burris denied requests to contribute funds to Blagojevich and that he ''made it unequivocally clear ... that it would be inappropriate and pose a major conflict because I was interested in the Senate vacancy."
Someone close to the events surrounding the exchange of funds claims that Burris considered using an intermediary to make a contribution. Again, Burris vehemently denies this: "I did not donate or help raise a single dollar for the governor from those conversations and would never consider making a donation through a third party."
What can we determine from these accusations? It seems that Burris, not unlike Blagojevich, may have been complicit in misconduct. Also, it appears that Burris was being evasive in order to secure his current Senate seat. After all, how could Burris allow a minor detail such as misconduct to affect his election to the Senate?
The aftermath of this for Burris could be harmful to his career. As stated by Republican, Senate Minority Leader Christine Radognod, Burris' actions could serve as a "fatal wound" to his reelection in 2010. It will be interesting to see if this proves to be true.
Burris does not seem to have a strong learning curve. This scandal involving Blagojevich, is not his first taste of such controversy.
Back in 1992 when he was the Attorney General of Illinois, Burris ignored warnings by the Assistant Attorney General, Kenney, that Rolando Cruz, a man who had been accused of raping a 10-year-old girl in 1985, was most likely innocent. Later in 1995, DNA tests proved Cruz's innocence, and in 2002, he received a full pardon by then Governor George Ryan.
The author of this post is Bryan Wisotsky. Read his blog at Storybook Vacations.
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