Did Roland Burris commit perjury?

[snowbear]

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I was just reading the "Google news" page and a story about Roland Burris was on the main page. When I did a quick check of the most recent stories, I was shocked at the staggering amount of stories that are rolling across the wire right now.

Here's only one example -- there are LOTS of stories on Burris rolling across right now.

Burris changes story again about his appointment to Senate

Illinois Republicans want perjury investigation

By John Chase and Rick Pearson | Tribune reporters
February 15, 2009

U.S. Sen. Roland Burris has changed his story again about what happened before ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed him to the Senate, and state Republican leaders said Saturday that they want an investigation into whether he perjured himself.

Burris gradually has acknowledged deeper contacts with Blagojevich allies after initially portraying himself as a surprise pick for the seat the former governor is accused of trying to sell. But Illinois House Republican leaders said they wonder whether Burris purposely deceived the public while under oath last month by not telling a House impeachment panel that Blagojevich's brother asked for fundraising help before the disgraced ex-governor appointed him.

State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) said he would ask the now-dormant impeachment committee to refer the matter to Sangamon County State's Atty. John Schmidt, a Republican, after learning about the revelations by Burris, a Democrat.

Burris acknowledged the discussions with the governor's brother, Robert, in an affidavit the senator quietly filed Feb. 5 with the head of the committee. Burris said Robert Blagojevich called him three times seeking his fundraising assistance. In addition, Burris said he spoke with three other close associates of the governor and a labor leader with ties to the Blagojevich administration about being appointed to the Senate. Burris previously acknowledged only having spoken to one such friend.

Continued- http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-burris-blagojevich-fundraisifeb15,0,6744920.story

http://www4.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Blagojevich+Names+Roland+Burris+Fill+Obama+8a2FzUBsZ5Tl.jpg

I hope this doesn't turn out to be a major mess!


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[BlooInBloo]

1. Maybe. We'll find out.

[snowbear]

2. I 'spose so....

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Multiple media sources sure seem to be cranking out the stories..

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[PBS Poll-435]

3. I hope not

That would not be good.

[CakeGrrl]

4. Hopefully not, but the Right is fighting hard to keep the Dems from 60 Senate seats

When they want to go after a Dem target, the Corporate MSM is right there to assist.

[Raine]

17. That's what I think too

it seems that Franken is likely going to be seated so now they will try really hard to get rid of someone like Burris. :argh:

[DCBob]

5. This is why Burris should have never been seated.

Blago should be in jail.

[GarbagemanLB]

6. Bingo. Democratic leadership once again being gutless and not standing their ground. Thanks Reid!

[Kdillard]

7. I thought there was no legal ground for them to stand on regarding

not seating Burris. They didn't want to seat him and they were probably right but the law was on the side of Burris and they got a lot of crap for trying to fight it. Illonis needs to review their laws so that something like this doesn't happen again. Blago should not have been allowed to appoint anyone but the law as I understand it doesn't prohibit it.




Thanks to the person who gave me a heart :)

[DailyGrind51]

8. It's called a "sin of omission" (the truth you leave out of what you say).

[Orsino]

9. Dunno. It does answer the old question of what's wrong with Burris.

The old fool is corrupt, full of contempt for the body he was so eager to join, that's what.

[Hokie]

10. This could be a blessing

Getting rid of Burris now would cut all ties with Blago. The new Gov could appoint a stronger Democrat who could be a cinch to hold the seat in 2010.

[DailyGrind51]

13. Burris is just another "Harry Reid", no cojones!

[DeschutesRiver]

11. What I do know is that Burris won't survive past 2010 due to this

Perjury? I'd like to know the exact questions they asked him first. But omitting unfavorable stuff when you understood the intention of the questions, and the spirit in which they were asked? Esp. where Burris tries to relieve senate concerns by promising he hadn't received any consideration for the seat? And failing to mention he was asked to do some things that might look shady?

I thought Burris came out of nowhere, as a complete surprise appointment once Blago was outed and fighting to retain his governorship. Now, from what I read, it might be that Burris omitted other facts too, like when he said he only spoke to the governor once before being selected? Probably that is true, but it failed to give the correct impression because turns out he had been lobbying for this appointment since last summer.

Which means that these "requests for fundraising for Blago", coming from Blago's brother, and Burris' responses are likely caught on tape somewhere. Burris probably sent in the amended Feb 4th answer disclosing these multiple contacts last summer, once he was "reminded" that he was indeed caught on tape doing this.

Good grief, what a freaking mess this is about to become.


Here is the USA Today story that came up on my screen:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-02-14-burris-blagojevich_N.htm?csp=24&RM_Exclude=Juno

[AtomicKitten]

12. Ha! It seems somebody finally listened to the tapes.

All along there was concern Burris was withholding information regarding Blagojevich, but rather than waiting to see (it's not like anybody expected Franken to be seated in our lifetime, oy!) Reid buckled to pressure. There is no way in hell the wingnuts will let this bit of intrigue stand without scrutiny.

[firedupdem]

14. I knew he was a disaster...

but Reid can't be blamed. By law, there was nothing he could do about it. Blago could appoint whoever he wanted.

[RepublicanElephant]

15. burris should go, but voluntarily.

the senate can't afford the time and media circus distracting them from the economy.

dems should find a good candidate NOW to start funding and promoting for next year's primary against burris, should he decide to stay and run for re-election.

[IsItJustMe]

19. And what makes you think he will resign. Did you see the way he fought to get in there to begin

with. You can hope all you want, but the only way I see Burris leaving the Senate is an impeachment. Probably just me, but why help the Republicans carry their water.

I just don't see how Democrats piling on to Burris is going to help anything right now.

[Thrill]

16. He should just resign. And let Quinn pick his replacement

Make him Commerce Secretary :)

[IsItJustMe]

20. Yeah, in a perfect world.

[IsItJustMe]

18. Don't know at all. It is impossible to get inside someones head and know if they had an intent to

deceive or an honest mistake. The human mind is not infallible and lapses of memory and/or and misperceptions in a given circumstance do occur. They do for me anyway.

For me though, Burris possibly lying, on whether or not Blago ever contacted him or not, does not make a whole hell of a lot of sence, to begin with.

I call this using a poll vault stick to jump over mouse terds. It's not important, what-so-ever. But who knows what is important anymore, by the time the msm and the interested parties get through with it.

Bottom line, it's a diversion from what is really going on right now in this country. But hey, as long as we got bull shit like this running through our minds, we won't be thinking about the billions of dollars that are being wasted in war and thousands of people across this country who are loosing their homes right now.

Now, let's go hang the bastard.
:sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[Holly_Hobby]

21. Illinois GOP leader calls for Burris resignation

Sigh....

CHICAGO (AP) - Just as Illinois was moving past the agony and embarrassment of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's ousting, the fellow Democrat whom Blagojevich appointed to the U.S. Senate was hearing calls for his own resignation Sunday amid allegations he lied to legislators.

Freshman Sen. Roland Burris released an affidavit on Saturday that contradicts his statements last month to a House committee investigating Blagojevich's impeachment.

"I can't believe anything that comes out of Mr. Burris at this point," Rep. Jim Durkin, the impeachment committee's ranking Republican, said at a news conference Sunday. "I think it would be in the best interest of the state if he resigned because I don't think the state can stand this anymore."

But an adamant and sometimes emotional Burris told reporters later Sunday that he hadn't done anything wrong and never misled anyone.

...

http://apnews.myway.com//article/20090216/D96CCAUO0.html

[Top Cat]

22. It already is

[snowbear]

24. I was worry about that.. In fact.....

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When I posted the concerns that I had with his appointment, a couple of my fello' DUers actually jumped down my throat, one even suggesting I was echoing "right wing talking points".

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8078619

Most here also had a few concerns.. and of course we all felt bad for Burris that he had to stand out in the rain (Reid is to blame for that one)

But still- I've been concerned that something bad could come of Blago's pick eventually..

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[Fire1]

23. The media is always the ones that make the mess. They also

set themselves up as judge and jury at their whim.

[kwenu]

25. No. At least not from what I saw at the press conference.