Note: This diary is largely a repost of a diary I pounded out in the middle of the night on Sunday Feb. 15. As per the FP post, Roland Burris now admits that he tried to raise money for Rod Blagojevich while he was under consideration for the Senate seat vacated by Obama.
New revelations about the contacts between Roland Burris and Blagojevich confidants are seeping out that contradict Burris' sworn testimony before Illinois state legislators, testimony that was key to Burris' seating as as US senator. We are now hearing about a 3RD (UPDATE: no, make that 4TH) version of events.
So far, the response of Democrats in Illinois and nationwide has been muted (the word "mealymouthed" comes to mind) in response to the new revelations. Illinois Republicans are taking this opportunity to cast aspersions on ALL Democrats statewide.
We cannot call out Republican corruption if we are not willing to call out Democratic corruption.
If you live in Illinois, call your state legislator to demand a swift and wide-ranging perjury investigation. Call your US Senator to demand the expulsion of Roland Burris from the US Senate.
After the jump, a chronology of Burris' shifting testimony, as well as some phone numbers to call:
News reports have suggested that Burris changed his testimony only after being made aware that his conversations with Blagojevich cronies were recorded by federal authorities. Here's the chronology:
January 5: In a sworn written statement filed with the Illinois General Assembly, Roland Burris stated that he has had NO contact with anyone in the Blagojevich camp before his "surprise" appointment to the US Senate on December 26.
January 8: During testimony before the Illinois state impeachment committee, Burris is asked specifically about contact with Blago confidants Robert Blagojevich, the brother of Scumdog Million-hair (h/t Jon Stewart), and Blago aides/supporters Len Monk, John Harris, John Wyma, Doug Scofield, and Ed Smith. Burris admits only to a discussion he had with Monk (former Blago chief-of-staff turned lobbyist), and suggests that the conversation may have occurred back to July.
January 15: Roland Burris sworn in as US Senator, filling the seat vacated by Barack Obama.
February 5: Burris quietly submits a letter to Illinois Democratic House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie directly contradicting his testimony in person before the impeachment panel. Burris now admits to discussions about the US Senate seat with Harris, Wyma, Scofield, Smith - in addition to the previously disclosed conversation with Monk. Burris also now admits to three (THREE!!!) conversations with Million-hair's brother Robert Blagojevich, conversations in which Robert B. asked for contributions to Million-hair's campaign fund. News reports suggest that Burris expressed a willingness to consider contributing to Million-hair through a third party. Burris currently denies making any contribution to Million-hair or any willingness to take part in a third party-brokered quid pro quo.
UPDATE: Apparently, Burris underplayed the importance of his new affidavit to Reid and Durbin when notifying them of it on Feb. 5 (h/t Rimjob). He strolled up to them on the floor of the Senate while Reid and Durbin were occupied trying to round up votes for the stimulus package.
February 17: Burris now says he tried to raise $$ at the behest of Million-hair's brother, but realized he couldn't round up enough donors to meet the minimum requested.
This story was first broken by the Chicago Sun-Times and has since been getting worse in each iteration. Barbara Flynn Currie issued a statement saying that her office had not read Burris' letter until alerted by the press, assuming it to be routine written documentation and follow-up. It should be noted that while Barbara Flynn Currie may not have dotted all of the i's and crossed all of the t's, she has a reputation in Illinois of being a progressive Democrat and a straight-shooter.
Burris has had a long-standing reputation for wide-spread hackitude, but he wasn't necessarily seen as a crook, which is why he got seated in the US Senate. I will admit that His Hackitude's vote was needed to pass the stimulus bill. However, even if we can't tackle health-care reform until Al Franken is seated, the US Senate needs to cleanse itself of Burris ASAP.
Call your US Senator. However, Harry Reid and Dick Durbin will probably say that they can't make a move without an investigation by Illinois legislators. Don't let Illinois Republicans masquerade as champions of clean government; corruption in Illinois has been a bipartisan way of life. If you live in Illinois, call your state legislator AND Senator Dick Durbin.
Illinois State Senate President John Cullerton: (217) 782-2728
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan: (217) 782-5350
Illinois House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie: (217) 782-8121
Illinois General Assembly switchboard: (217) 782-2000
Senator Dick Durbin-DC: (202) 224-2152
Chicago: (312) 353-4952
Springfield: (217) 492-4062
Marion: (618) 998-8812
I'm not going to bother listing any numbers for Roland Burris because all of his actions so far indicate that he has no shame and is therefore impervious to the voices of his constituents.