By Jordan Wilson
Sun-Times Staff Reporter
URBANA -- Roland Burris denied wrongdoing Wednesday in his clouded appointment to the U.S. Senate seat, despite the release Tuesday of FBI wiretap transcripts that showed he was open to donating money to the now-indicted governor who appointed him.
The new details re-opened public scrutiny on the embattled Burris, who stormed off only three minutes into a 10-minute media availability Wednesday.
Burris said the impeachment panel that questioned him in January did not ask him "whether or not there was anything dealing with fund-raising."
"If I were asked that question at the impeachment hearing, I would have dealt with those things," Burris said. "I was not asked that question. Please check the transcripts."
In the Nov. 13 wiretap, Burris was recorded talking with Rob Blagojevich, the brother of the impeached governor.
The transcript details the two talking about Burris‚ willingness to contribute to the governor, and the possible improprieties of doing so while Burris was interested in the vacant U.S. Senate seat.
But Burris ends the conversation saying: "I will personally do something OK? And it will come to you before the 15th of December."
Burris side-stepped direct questions about the issue Wednesday, but said he did not hide those details.
"There was no attempt to do any, wheeling and dealing to not disclose," Burris said while weeding through reporters to his maroon SUV. "That did not take place."