Burris perjured himself before an Illinois House committee when he said he had no contact with former Gov. Rod Blagojevich before he was approached by the governor about the appointment to the Senate. On Saturday Burris filed an affidavit stating he was in contact with Blagojevich several times prior to his nomination to fill President Barack Obama's empty Senate seat. According to the Chicago Sun Times, Burris now acknowledges having contact with five representatives of Blagojevich regarding his appointment to the U.S. Senate seat. Burris also confirmed that Robert Blagojevich, the since-ousted governor’s brother who headed his campaign fund, had solicited him for campaign cash. Burris also says he talked to the governor's office about a position in state government for his nephew.
Prominent Republicans are speaking out in calling for the senator to resign for the good of the people of Illinois. Sen. Dan Cronin, R- DuPage, called for Burris to step down, saying:
In light of everything citizens of Illinois been through with the corrupt administration of Blagojevich and with the public demand for honesty and open government, I firmly believe Sen. Burris needs to step down. Roland Burris was not honest and forthcoming in the process and there need to be consequences, which include him stepping down from his position.
Andy McKenna, chairman of the Illinois GOP, said Burris is continuing to bring embarrassment to the state of Illinois. McKenna said the continued ethical shenanigans of the Blagojevich administration and obstructionists provided an object lesson in why Democrats should have stripped Blagojevich of his appointment powers and kept their promise to people of Illinois to hold a special election."
House Republicans are calling for Burris to resign and are urging the state's attorney in Springfield to investigate Burris for perjury.
Rep. Jim Durkin, R- Western Springs, told the Sun Times Burris is continuing to bring shame to the state of Illinois.
While the Illinois GOP will push for Burris' ouster, they may have an unlikely ally in Senate leader Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. Reid did not want to allow Burris to take his seat because of Blagojevich's taint of corruption and this may fuel the powerful senator to urge Burris on his own to step down from that august body.
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2 comments:
Right. Burris should resign. More Republicans and Democrats should call on him to do so. Burris' comments are cute. Basically he says he did not lie. Instead people did not ask him the right questions.
Sound familiar? Sounds just like former President Bill Clinton to me.
If the elected officials are truly honest about honest government and not doling out empty platitudes, then you would see more calling for his resgination, but I believe the principles of former Secy. of War Simon Cameron, D- Penn. (Civil War era), who called for people to "damn their principles and vote their party" are the accepted norms today
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