In a letter of admonition, the U.S. Senate ethics committee said U.S. Sen. Roland Burris was "misleading" and "inconsistent" in his statements before an Illinois House impeachment panel and less than candid about his failure to disclose various contacts with Rod Blagojevich's administration.
Before the ethics panel's letter was made public, Burris put out a press statement indicating he was "cleared of legal wrongdoing."
The initial headlines went up.
And then ... the delete button.
In its Friday letter, the ethics committee said Burris gave "multiple and at times contradictory explanations for failing to disclose all your contacts with the governor's associates."
The ethics inquiry was launched earlier this year after the Chicago Sun-Times revealed that Burris' testimony before an Illinois House panel investigating Rod Blagojevich's impeachment lacked critical details about his dealings with the ex-governor's brother.
Burris added to his testimony in a written affidavit, which was first made public in the Sun-Times after the paper raised questions to the senator about his discussions with Robert Blagojevich.
The letter goes on to say that Burris' recorded conversation with Robert Blagojevich about fund-raising was "innappropriate," but did not rise to the level of an explicit quid pro quo.
But it faulted Burris with failing to disclose the conversation with the brother of the ex-governor before he was seated in the U.S. Senate.
"You should have known that any conversations you had about your desire to seek the Senate seat and about any possible fund-raising for the governor were critical to these inquiries," the letter stated.
The ethics panel said Burris didn't break the law, however: "Senators must meet a much higher standard of conduct."
Sun-Times editorial: "Burris lied, then lied about lying."
New York Times: 'A sternly worded rebuke.'
Chicago Tribune's Steve Chapman: "Burris is a lying snake."
Lynn Sweet: No charges coming
U.S. Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) was admonished Friday by the U.S. Senate ethics committee over his testimony in Springfield concerning how he got appointed to Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat. The committee's inquiry and subsequent reprimand comes after a Chicago Sun-Times investigation brought to light Burris' inconsistent statements before a panel weighing former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment.
In a sworn statement filed with the House panel Jan. 5, before he testified, Burris said he had no contact with Blagojevich's camp about the Senate seat aside from his appointment in late December of last year.
In testimony before the committee, he disclosed only that he spoke with Lon Monk, Blagojevich's former chief of staff.
Three weeks after he was sworn into his Senate seat, Burris filed a supplemental affidavit revealing he also spoke with Robert Blagojevich -- the ex-governor's brother and fund-raising chair -- as well as Blagojevich insiders John Harris, Doug Scofield and John Wyma.
The Sun-Times reported in October that the Senate ethics panel was still weighing action against Burris even after he announced he would not seek election next year.
U.S. Sen. Roland Burris is still on the hot seat. The Chicago Sun-Times reports a congressional panel was querying state lawmakers about Burris' testimony before a state House panel. The questioning of the senator appointed by Rod Blagojevich came about one month after the Chicago Democrat announced he wouldn't run for a full term in 2010.
For more background on Burris happenings, click here.
Listen to the secretly recorded phone call between Burris and Robert Blagojevich, the ex-governor's fund-raising chief.
In the days following President Obama's election, his now-chief of staff Rahm Emanuel
wanted then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich to appoint a longtime ally to fill his 5th Congressional District seat. There was also discussion of a possible cabinet position. Emanuel didn't know at the time that Blagojevich didn't have authority to make the appointment.
The feds asked a congressional ethics committee to back off its probe of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. That's because the panel's work started overlapping a federal probe, the Chicago Sun-Times reported today.
The ethics office said Wednesday it was investigating whether Jackson used tax-backed resources -- in the form of his Chicago and Washington, D.C., staffs -- to vie for the U.S. Senate seat appointment last year. The now-indicted ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich at the time was in charge of appointing a replacement to the seat vacated by President Obama.
"Rep. Jackson may have violated federal law and House rules concerning the proper use of the member's representational allowance," the panel indicated.
Among the areas of inquiry in an ongoing federal probe tied to the case of ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is whether Jackson's congressional staff had authored letters of support for Jackson, then distributed those letters to different interest groups. The groups then are alleged to have put their organization names and signatures on the letters and sent them to Blagojevich.
A longtime military man and successful businessman, Rob Blagojevich -- the brother of our controversial ex-governor -- lived in relative obscurity.
But just four months after reluctantly agreeing to act as the fund-raising chair to the former governor, Rob Blagojevich was an unnamed co-schemer in a federal complaint. By the next spring, he was indicted.
For the first time, Rob and his wife, Julie have agreed to break that silence in a wide-ranging interview with the Chicago Sun-Times. Read today's story
In his new book, The Governor, ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich said the day before his arrest, he called his chief of staff, John Harris, and told him to get the ball rolling on the appointment of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to the Senate seat.
He hoped to strike a deal with her politically powerful father who would have to agree to advance a legislative package that would expand health care, create 500,000 new jobs and put a hold on foreclosures.
The notion that Blagojevich would have chosen Lisa Madigan appears to lay the groundwork for a defense strategy that would attack the government's sexiest allegation: that Blagojevich aimed to sell the Senate post for personal gain.
Whether the contention will hold up is in question in a case that is grounded in a substantial number of secret conversations caught on FBI wiretaps.
Multimillionaire Chicago trader Blair Hull wanted to be a U.S. senator so badly that he spent more than $24 million of his personal fortune in 2004, but he ended up losing to Barack Obama in the Democratic primary.
And when Obama was elected president last year and gave up his Senate seat, Hull went after it again.
But this time, he worked behind the scenes, quietly angling to get appointed by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.
Terry Ekl, the attorney representing former Blagojevich Chief of Staff John Harris, said his client's testimony at trial could be pretty damaging for the ousted governor.
"Working for Gov. Blagojevich for the most honest people, was an extraordinarily difficult thing to do," Ekl said after his client pleaded guilty to one wire fraud count today. "I think John Harris ties a lot of incidents together. He will come across before a jury as absolutely 100 percent honest, because he is. I think his testimony will have a significant impact in the government's case against the former governor."
A former top aide to Rod Blagojevich pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, admitting he discussed having his the-boss appoint an adviser to President Obama to the U.S. Senate in exchange for financial benefits for the ex-governor.
As part of his plea deal in federal court, former chief of staff John Harris, 47, of Chicago, has agreed to act as a witness against Blagojevich. Today's plea makes Harris the first of those indicted in the same case as Blagojevich to officially turn on his old boss. The government will recommend Harris receive 35 months for his crime. Harris' lawyer said after court he'll seek far less.
Harris was arrested along with Blagojevich last December. Almost immediately, he agreed to cooperate with federal investigators. Although his name appeared throughout the 75-page indictment handed down in April, he faced just one count of wire fraud.
The charge involves phone discussions Harris had with Washington D.C. advisors regarding landing financial benefits for Blagojevich in exchange for appointing senior adviser Valerie Jarrett to the U.S. Senate seat vacated when Obama became president.
Jarrett is not accused of wrongdoing and Obama, in a report released last year, said Jarrett did not take part in any quid pro quo discussions with Blagojevich.
Harris' attorney, Terry Ekl, has said Harris had done nothing to financially benefit himself. His cooperation has been crucial to giving prosecutors a roadmap to Blagojevich's final days in office.
Blagojevich's longtime pal and former chief of staff, Lon Monk, who was pivotal in the ex-governor's fund-raising efforts, is also expected to enter a guilty plea later this month.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is expected to announce at 2 p.m. today that she will not run for Governor or a U.S. Senate seat, our Lynn Sweet reports.
Madigan was viewed as a front-runner among Democrats for both posts.
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich just told a national TV audience while appearing on Mike Huckabee's talk show tonight that Roland Burris refused to donate to Citizens for Blagojevich last year.
In defending his pick of Burris to succeed Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate, Blagojevich said Burris "turned us down," and didn't donate.
It's true Burris did not donate to Blagojevich's campaign fund in the final months of last year.
But how does the public know that the decision wasn't made for Burris?
The ex-governor was arrested on corruption charges -- including that he allegedly tried selling President Obama's Senate seat -- six days before Burris said he'd write a check to Blagojevich.
Burris' own lawyer said his client never called Blagojevich or his brother to tell them he refused to donate.
A refusal would be a change of heart from what's now become a very public Nov. 13 phone call where Burris is heard saying he would kick in money at a time that he sought the Senate seat appointment.
On a recently released recording between Burris and Blagojevich's brother, Robert, Burris can be heard promising to personally write a check by Dec. 15th of last year. Burris also can be heard saying he'd consider doing something in the name of Timothy Wright.
Wright, his law partner, has told the Sun-Times that following the Nov. 13 phone call, Burris asked him about holding a fund-raiser or making a Blagojevich contribution.
Wright said he told Burris he thought that was a terrible idea.
In a short interview on the conservative talk show, Blagojevich recited a prayer about mercy and invoked God's name on numerous occasions.
"I also believe God has a purpose for this," Blagojevich told Huckabee, who ran for president last year.
"I've been railroaded, I've been wronged," the ex-governor went on.
"I'm the anti-Nixon," he says, explaining he wants all the tapes regarding his discussions of the Senate seat made public.
"I think what you'll find is a governor who worked ALL the time for the people of Illinois," he said.
Roland Burris tells the Associated Press today he'll publicize "in the very near future" whether he'll run for a full term in 2010.
Meanwhile, our Springfield reporter Jordan Wilson reports:
SPRINGFIELD -- U.S. Sen. Roland Burris continued to defend himself of pay-to-play allegations Thursday, taking shots at the media and the state's senior U.S. Senator.
Burris came under fire again after a FBI wiretap transcript showed he promised a campaign contribution to the man who appointed him, the now-indicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
In the Nov. 13 conversations, Burris tells the ex-governor's brother that he would "personally do something OK? And it will come to you before the 15th of December."Burris was referencing a promised donation of $1,500, a figure his lawyer confirmed.
Burris said Thursday that he has been truthful throughout the events leading up to his appointment and in the sworn testimony and affidavits he submitted after. He just wants the public and media to believe him.
"I expect the media and the public to review every word of the transcript and the context," Burris said. "And at the end of the day, I expect both to judge me fairly and to acknowledge I did nothing to curry favor, was not a wiling party in any alleged pay to play scheme and I did not lie to anyone about the events leading to my appointment."
Burris then went a step farther and accused the media of mischaracterizing how he withheld key facts about his appointment during his dealings with a House committee that launched the impeachment case against former Gov. Blagojevich. Burris put the onus on his questioners on the committee.
"You all have got it backwards," Burris said to reporters. "It is not upon a person who is testifying to go out of his way on anything. It is the person who has to ask the questions."
Not only did Burris try to convince members of the press to lighten their coverage, but he also denounced comments made by his fellow U.S. Senator from Illinois, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).
Durbin said Wednesday that Burris' testimony before the House impeachment panel in January was incomplete and not accurate.
"Senator Durbin's comments are not correct," Burris said sharply. "Please accept Roland Burris' comments rather than Senator Durbin. I answered every question that was asked of me by that committee."
Audio of the wire-tapped phone call between Roland Burris and Robert Blagojevich will not be made public -- at least for now, a spokesman for federal prosecutors in Chicago said today.
U.S. Attorney's spokesman Randall Samborn said his office is not releasing the audio of the Burris conversation, citing a court order that authorized its release to the U.S. Senate ethics committee -- but not to the public.
A transcript of the calls were made available by the court and docketed, which is why that was public yesterday, Samborn said.
A transcript of the Nov. 13 conversation between Burris and Robert Blagojevich was released yesterday showing that Burris feared he'd be shunned publicly if he donated to the governor while he sought the appointment.
"I'm trying to figure out how to deal with this and still be in consideration for the appointment," Burris said.
"If I do get appointed, that means I bought it." Burris ends the conversation saying he'll send Rod Blagojevich a check by Dec. 15.
Robert Blagojevich's attorney, Michael Ettinger, said he supports releasing audio of the tape, saying the tape is favorable to his client.
"There's not one word about quid pro quo," Ettinger said. "There's no pressure. It shows that he wasn't pressuring Burris at all."
Three more defendants charged in ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich's case are up in court today to face corruption charges.
They are:
• Former adviser and long-time Blagojevich friend Chris Kelly. This is the third indictment of Kelly, he was previously charged in two other cases. In January, he pleaded guilty to a tax scheme involving his roofing company. He was later charged again in a scheme involving contracts at O'Hare airport. Kelly is named in four counts in the Blagojevich indictment, including racketeering conspiracy, fraud, extortion and attempted extortion conspiracy.
• Springfield millionaire William Cellini. Cellini faces three charges tied to a scheme involving the Teachers Retirement System and an alleged effort to get a firm to pay $1.5 million to the ex-governor's campaign fund in exchange for state business.
• Blagojevich's most recent chief of staff John Harris, who is cooperating with the government and is expected to sign onto a plea deal. Harris was arrested with Blagojevich on Dec. 9. He faces just one wire fraud count. He will be arraigned separately, an hour later than Cellini and Kelly.
The three will appear before U.S. District Judge James Zagel and are expected to plead not guilty to the charges.
Rajinder Bedi, managing director of the state's Office of Trade & Investment, resigned his post Tuesday -- a day after the Sun-Times reported he was involved in an alleged scheme surrounding U.S. Rep.Jesse Jackson Jr.'s bid to be appointed to the U.S. Senate seat post. The Sun-Times reported Monday that Bedi approached the brother of Rod Blagojevich last October to tell him of a proposal to appoint Jackson to the Senate seat. The proposal was that Jackson would raise $5 million for Blagojevich after his appointment and the Indian community, through the efforts of Raghuveer Nayak, would raise another $1 million. Nayak made another, similar approach. Sources say that Bedi's approach to Blagojevich was to convey what Nayak could do for the now ex-governor. Sources say Nayak represented himself as a Jackson representative. Jackson denied he allowed Nayak to make any pay-to-play overtures.
Bedi resigned after Gov. Quinn told him he'd likely be fired by the end of the month.
Former Gov. Blagojevich, who pleaded not guilty to charges yesterday, hired Bedi back in 2003.
Camera crews are wandering in front of the Dirksen courthouse downtown. Reporters and photographers are huddled inside the media "bull pen" inside the building.
And, 90 minutes before the arraignment of Rod Blagojevich and his brother is even set to start, the courtroom on the 25th floor is already filling up.
Blagojevich and his brother, Robert Blagojevich will face charges today in a wide-ranging indictment that was returned April 2. They're likely to plead not guilty in front of U.S. District Judge James Zagel and each is expected to make comments to the media before leaving the building.
But today is really about the circus of the event. It's the first time the ex-governor will enter the building since his spectacular Dec. 9 arrest -- when he showed up in a jogging suit and left escorted by his security. Today, he'll enter the building as a private citizen, as he was ousted from public office earlier this year. Courtroom security, in preparing for Blagojevich and ordering that no special arrangements would be made on his behalf, referred to him as MR. Blagojevich. Emphasis added.
There's been a few new disclosures about U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and the Senate seat appointment that's under federal scrutiny, but today the Sun-Times makes a new revelation.
Two donors told the Blagojevich camp that Jackson himself would raise campaign cash in exchange for the Senate seat appointment -- to the tune of $5 million. The donors would kick in another $1 million to Blagojevich if Jesse Jr. were appointed, according to sources.
There's no indication of Jackson's involvement in this alleged pledge. He would not comment for the article.
One of the reported conversations took place Oct. 31, when a Jackson longtime supporter and Blagojevich donor approached Robert Blagojevich
According to the indictment, Robert Blagojevich, who headed the ex-governor's campaign fund, talked with his brother the next day on the phone to give him an update on fund-raising with Jackson's supporters.
The Blagojevich brothers are both charged with wire fraud because of that conversation.
In the wake of a statewide scandal involving ex-gov Rod Blagojevich, a citizens' group is rallying today to stop corruption in Illinois.
Here's what they have to say:
CHICAGO, Illinois - Mere steps from indicted former Governor Rod Blagojevich's office, hundreds of people gathered in downtown Chicago today with a simple message: "We've had enough!" Voters joined with civic and business leaders, religious and non-profit groups for a public CHANGE Illinois! rally calling for an end to corruption in Illinois politics.
"Corruption in Illinois has turned us from the land of Lincoln to a national laughingstock," said Rev. Patricia Watkins, Executive Director of Target Area Development Corp. "We need to take special interest money out of Illinois politics - the people deserve to get their voices back."
The rally, organized by CHANGE Illinois!, focused on the need to clean up Illinois politics now.
"On behalf of AARP's nearly 2 million in Illinois, I can say we're tired of politics as usual standing in the way of progress as it should be," said Merri Dee, State President for AARP. "The people of Illinois need to stand up and demand that things change."
CHANGE Illinois! has launched a statewide campaign to end the culture of corruption in Illinois politics. The coalition's first priority is take large donations out of Illinois campaign through enacting strict campaign contribution limits. The coalition has been taking the message to communities across the state, setting up the CHANGE Illinois! Hotline (1-800-719-3020) to connect voters to their state lawmakers to urge them to help put an end to pay-to-play politics. Illinois is one of only four states with no limits on political campaign contributions.
"Unless people throughout Illinois contact their legislators and demand change, we're going to see even more waste and corruption in our government," Peter Bensinger, Co-Chair of CHANGE Illinois!, said. "If we can't change the way government does business in Illinois, corporate leaders are going to think twice about doing business here."
Since 1970, over 1000 Illinois public officials have been convicted of corruption, including 19 judges (serving half the state's population), 30 Chicago Alderman, two Governors with a third now indicted and a former State Attorney General --- one conviction every other week.
For more information about the CHANGE Illinois! The Coalition for Honest and New Government Ethics: www.ChangeIL.org
I will be a guest on the Mancow and Cassidy morning show today at about 9:30 a.m. to talk about the Sun-Times' coverage of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.
Tune in! WLS 890 AM
After not responding to requests for comment for days, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.
acknowledged today he is under scrutiny by a House ethics panel, saying: "I have done nothing wrong."
His comments come after the Sun-Times first reported Tuesday that Jackson's efforts to secure President Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat are being reviewed in a congressional inquiry.
He said today he is cooperating in the probe -- and is confident it will be dismissed.
"I am cooperating fully with the preliminary review being conducted by the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE)," Jackson said in a statement released by his office. "I was notified last week about the inquiry and am eager to answer any questions and provide any information to the OCE about my actions related to last year's vacant Senate seat."
Jackson's statement is his first on the topic, despite repeated requests for comment in previous days.
"As I said when the [Rod] Blagojevich scandal first broke back in December, I have done nothing wrong and reject pay-to-play politics," Jackson said. "I'm confident that this new ethics office -- which I voted in favor of creating -- will be able to conduct a fair and expeditious review and dismiss this matter."
Jackson has been tough to get a hold of lately. The Sun-Times sought to get a comment from Jackson last week and Monday in response to a different story that ran Tuesday -- that Jackson was interviewed by federal authorities.
We were able to reach Jackson's wife, the 7th Ward Ald. Sandi Jackson, and his father -- the Rev. Jesse Jackson -- but neither congressman Jackson, his attorney nor his spokesman would comment.
