“I’m confident I will be properly exonerated.” – Illinois Gov. Blagojevich
The plot thickens. A potential problem has popped up regarding Burris, though it’s not clear how big a challenge it actually is at this point. But it adds a question about Burris where none previously appeared.
For the first time, Burris indicated that he asked Blagojevich’s former chief of staff and college classmate, Lon Monk, to relay his interest in the Senate seat to the governor last July or September.
“If you’re close to the governor, you know, let him know I’m certainly interested in the seat,” Burris said he told Monk.
That testimony appears to differ from an affidavit Burris submitted to the impeachment panel this week in which he stated he spoke to no “representatives” of the governor about the Senate post prior to Dec. 26.
Federal prosecutors, who identified Monk as “Lobbyist 1″ in their criminal complaint against Blagojevich, indicated they tapped Monk’s phone in November as Blagojevich moved to fill President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat. [...]
That Burris’ testimony differs from a sworn affidavit he signed seemed not to faze Blago’s Senate designee. However, it’s not a minor point, even if the U.S. Senate chooses to brush it aside.
It remains to be seen whether this is the crack Reid is looking for to save face for the line in the sand he drew and then clumsily crossed. Stay tuned, because when Reid and Durbin “carefully review” Burris’ testimony, as promised, they’ll no doubt find the additional information contradictory to what was previously known.
Burris’ attorney had a ready explanation.
Burris’ lawyer, Timothy Wright, said it was improper to consider Monk a “representative” of the governor — the language used in Burris’ affidavit — since Monk no longer was on the state payroll when he and Burris spoke last year.
Hey. I’m first and that’s a first. It’s lonely here at the top.
I am from Illinois and the voters of this state have rejected Roland Burris many times over the last 15 years for Mayor of Chicago, US Senate etc. He has never been held in high regard here and is looked at as nothing more than an eccentric political hack.
Too bad Carol Mosely Braun can not retake the senate seat – she was an outstanding US senator.
It seems there would be a way to fill a vacancy that is more fair to the voters of a state than the appointment by the governor.
I think the dems are afraid if they have an election the repubs could win.
I just wish they would get it resolved right away. I wonder how long the senate trial is going to take. Maybe the Lt Gov could select the person
c chicago | 01.09.2009 – 2:04 pm | #
That’s what Dems are worried about looking at 2010, no doubt about it, as Betsy also notes.
Blago is not going anywhere, anytime soon…(watching him on TV)
as a friend just emailed me…
BLAGO FOR SENATE MAJORITY LEADER!!!!
WOW …
This guy can put on a show …
I am starting to really like this guy …
When is he running for President again ?
I hope it is against Palin …
THEATER at it’s BEST …
WOW, is right. Priceless.
As all of us from Illinois know, Blago is crazy like a fox.
He’s sure as hell a fighter. That I *love*.
ogenec | 01.09.2009 – 3:31 pm | #
is torturing me on the last thread :=)
heh-heh… Blago is the comic relief!
BLAGO FOR SENATE MAJORITY LEADER!!!!
TaylorMarsh | Homepage | 01.09.2009 – 3:23 pm | #
LOL He’s whacked but he’s a showman.
It will be interesting if the MSM looks into the charges Blago made about the House blocking legislation to help people without insurance.
Blago mentioned 260K uninsured in Illinois, and my daughter is one of them. (she fell off our insurance once she turned 23 in October)
She will not graduate from grad school until 2010, so until then she will have no insurance.
Audiegrl | 01.09.2009 – 3:41 pm | #
parading those people up there seemed exploitative not compassionate IMO.
ogenec is torturing me on the last thread :=)
GeoT | 01.09.2009 – 3:34 pm | #
Sorry GeoT. I’m having flashbacks to statutory interpretation 101
I’ll stop now — it’s Friday after all.
GeoT | 01.09.2009 – 3:43 pm | #
That may be so, although maybe the people felt they would help bring the issue to national attention. If that does happen, it will be worth it, whether Blago used it as a prop or not. My biggest fear is not having insurance one day.
My biggest fear is not having insurance one day.
Audiegrl | 01.09.2009 – 3:49 pm | #
that’s a very important issue but has nothing to do with why he was impeached.
GeoT | 01.09.2009 – 3:58 pm | #
That seems to be the grey area. It sounds like the grounds for impeachment included things like prescription and insurance activities that he went around the House. (which he brought up today)
But can they actually legally impeach him for charges that have not been solidified with an indictment?
I am not saying he’s not shady, but that hopefully he can still be innocent until proven guilty.
And so far, he seems to know more about the law (and what they can do to him), than every one else does.
We need to find the articles of impeachment and see exactly what they charged him with.
Audiegrl | 01.09.2009 – 4:11 pm | #
they only have to find him “unfit to govern” they don’t have to have any legal procedure to cite.
Bottom line: I think he will get booted, but I don’t think it will be anytime soon.
The weird and hypocritical thing about this, is that Ted Stevens (7 time convicted felon), refused to resign his Senate seat, and if he had won the election, he would still be there waiting on the appeal process.
Then he received a standing ovation when he left. LOL
Maybe people view his criminality differently than Blago, and feel sorry for him, because of his age.
I didn’t get to see the press conference Blago had. We were at a funeral. But what in the world did he say about Rahm. Hannity and Morris were going crazy about it. Yet, I can’t find anything that he may have said.
Betsy | 01.09.2009 – 4:52 pm | #
I remember him mentioning his name very briefly as part of a story, but I don’t remember what he said.
Hannity is a menace.
But what in the
world did he say about Rahm. Hannity and Morris were going crazy about it. Yet, I can’t find
anything that he may have said.
Betsy | 01.09.2009 – 4:52 pm | #
Something about a bill sponsored Emmanuel, didn’t seen like a big deal except for Blago mentioning his name.
Bush is an ass.
Senior Bush administration officials are preparing to ask lawmakers for the second half of the $700 billion financial rescue package despite intense opposition in Congress and then have President Bush use his veto if the request is voted down, three sources familiar with the matter said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/09/AR2009010902846.html?hpid=topnews
Sometimes the underdog deserves to remain the underdog. Seeing a victimizer play the victim always offends my sense of justice. Seeing Blago perform what must be a well practiced Willie Stark impersonation offends my sense of political morality. Blago needs to be gone yesterday. His pluck is a smokescreen. I don’t care how well he can dance if all he really offers is revulsion to mangle ol’ Emma.
I have the feeling the Gov knows where many bodies are at in Chi-town and might be best left sleeping…this guy seems crazy, like a fox. I think this scope of investigation into his past dealings will be kept shell I say narrow. He will try to make the scope broad.
I don’t think it’s a big deal that Burris nominated himself.
It would appear everything is a green light for him now. Obama has spoken.
Yes, kefa…Blago sure sounded nuts to me, anyway. There’s something wrong with his brain!
Just wondering…elections are very expensive to run.
Well, today, the Senate reasserted its decision to balk at seating Burris.
Now, we get to see just how much backbone Burris has.
The best commentary so far was a guy on talk radio, of all places, who pointed out that if Burris sticks to his guns, we’re likely to see 2 senators claiming the same seat.
And Burris will win.
I’m just enough of a rebel to hope he goes for it.
If i were his age, I would.