Feds interested in Burris?
posted at 8:12 am on February 23, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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Roland Burris may have bigger fish to fry than a hostile Senate Ethics Committee. Federal investigators met with Burris and his attorneys for the first time regarding his involvement with Rod Blagojevich, and it couldn’t come at a worse time. Burris faces calls to resign and a potential investigation by the Illinois legislature for perjury:
Federal authorities questioned U.S. Senator Roland Burris today at his lawyer’s office — a long-awaited interview involving his U.S. Senate seat appointment — the Sun-Times-NBC/5 team has learned.
Burris is not accused of wrongdoing but was questioned in the case that centers on ousted Gov. Blagojevich and his alleged attempts to sell President Obama’s former seat.
Authorities interviewed Burris on a Saturday at his lawyer’s office, ostensibly to keep the exchange out of the limelight Burris has recently found himself in.
Burris admitted last week that his lawyers were in contact with the FBI about sitting for an interview, but denied that the contact was his motivation for controversially amending sworn testimony before a House impeachment panel.
Burris has issued a lot of denials that later had to get withdrawn, including denials that he had talked with Blagojevich aides about the appointment, that he had no contact regarding fundraising, and that he had agreed to fundraise for Blagojevich while pursuing the Senate appointment. A denial from Burris has roughly the equivalent reliability of currency from Zimbabwe. It’s more like an opening bid than a statement of fact.
The Sun-Times reports that the White House sent a signal to Burris to “consider his future”. Will Barack Obama throw Burris under the bus? I’d rather doubt it, despite the connection to Obama in the replacement appointment. Traditionally, presidents do not get involved in legislative scandals, preferring to have Congressional leadership take care of their own business. Obama doesn’t need to buy that kind of trouble, especially at the moment, when he’s rolling out his economic agenda.
If the feds find something, though, that might change. After all, it will be Obama’s DoJ that would prosecute malefactors in any federal corruption case. Regardless of whether Obama says something or not, he will have the responsibility of chasing the accused out of any office they may now hold, including perhaps Obama’s old Senate seat.
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Dude, it’s enough already.
the_nile on February 23, 2009 at 8:17 AM
This is the demoRATS type of guy.
csdeven on February 23, 2009 at 8:23 AM
Don’t let the man put you down, Burris! Make him drag you kicking and screaming!
Lehosh on February 23, 2009 at 8:26 AM
Traditionally, presidents do not get involved in legislative scandals
Traditionally-speaking, Presidents don’t do a lot of things, but we now have a President who is busy trashing the tradition of the office along with the traditions of America.
Ogabe will do whatever is good for Ogabe, period.
Bishop on February 23, 2009 at 8:26 AM
Traditionally-speaking, Presidents don’t do a lot of things, but we now have a President who is busy trashing the tradition of the office along with the traditions of America.
Ogabe will do whatever is good for Ogabe, period.
Bishop on February 23, 2009 at 8:26 AM
I love it when I read an article and then see that another has already articulated my point for me!
anniekc on February 23, 2009 at 8:32 AM
I hope they snag Rahm Emanual and Axlerod too.
Democrooks keep putting themselves in the headlines each week, over different scandals.
ObamatheMessiah on February 23, 2009 at 8:34 AM
Roland Burris has been pretty much an opportunist for the majority of his political career, so it was no big surprise for those of us in Illinois who saw him practically salivating over the chance to become a Senator, without having to go through all the hassle of campaigning for it. Never mind all that mundane stuff about “the will of the people”.
But it does look like this time, he grabbed for the wrong opportunity, in the wrong way, at the wrong time, with the wrong guy offering it to him, and I suspect that he is even now cursing the day he even heard the name “Rod Blagojevich”.
pilamaye on February 23, 2009 at 8:34 AM
This stuff writes itself. Priceless.
Jed1899 on February 23, 2009 at 8:35 AM
GOP leadership MUST hold the DEM’s to their own rediculous rules… The DEM’s “RUSHED TO JUDGEMENT” with Burrus and slammed him to seat him, he MUST not be removed by the DEMS. The GOP needs to DEMAND that he stay in office
gatorboy on February 23, 2009 at 8:40 AM
Throw out *all* the crooked Chicago pols including B Hussein O.
OmahaConservative on February 23, 2009 at 8:41 AM
Hey Burris has this thing and it’s effing golden. He’s not just gonna give it away for nothing.
Ted Torgerson on February 23, 2009 at 8:41 AM
How come, when it’s Dem, it’s always
“not accused of wrongdoing” ?
…and never a mention of the “D” after his name.
Enfuriating.
JoeAvg on February 23, 2009 at 8:42 AM
Hmm, I wonder when 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue will start to smell like the same cesspool as Chicago.
Marine_Bio on February 23, 2009 at 8:46 AM
Illinois Politics – It’s Craptastic!
Jaibones on February 23, 2009 at 8:46 AM
Marine_Bio on February 23, 2009 at 8:46 AM
What, you haven’t noticed teh reek yet?
The D.C. machine vs. the Chicago machine…
Mew
acat on February 23, 2009 at 8:47 AM
No worries. Barackatopia will save him…….or thumpity thump……whichever comes first.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 23, 2009 at 8:49 AM
This Blago scandal is the gift that keeps on giving.
Percy_Peabody on February 23, 2009 at 8:50 AM
Oh, I’ve noticed, but I think I’m one of 50 million or wo who have particularly sensitive noses to Democrat sewage. My musing was more for the case where the reek is so obvious that the folks in the MSM and the majority of the people who voted for him can’t miss it.
Marine_Bio on February 23, 2009 at 8:51 AM
Kinda like syphilis, right?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 23, 2009 at 8:51 AM
Is it just me or does everyone that Obama surrounds himself with a proto-felon except him. How is it that he is in the middle of this maelstrom of corruption and yet not have a single spot upon his well-tailored suit.
My guess? Camouflage.
Start asking yourself:
“What did the president know, and when did he know it?”
turfmann on February 23, 2009 at 8:54 AM
Marine_Bio on February 23, 2009 at 8:51 AM
I give it another 6 months at the outside.
I’m looking at how long it took for Carter to become a national joke, then factoring in the speed of the internet.
Mew
acat on February 23, 2009 at 8:54 AM
Not a bad analogy. Syphilis, if untreated works its way into the brain, Blago is definitely nuts…Kinda works doesn’t it.
Marine_Bio on February 23, 2009 at 8:55 AM
There should be a Cabinet position for him in the New Administration; he seems to have all the right credentials.
DL13 on February 23, 2009 at 8:56 AM
ROTFLMAO
TheSitRep on February 23, 2009 at 9:08 AM
I don’t know about the legitimacy of this prayer supposedly given by a minister to the Kansas Senate; however, the words sure ring true as we watch Democrat after Democrat break our laws seemingly without any legal price to pay, thus making them above the laws that apply to you and I…
Prayer given in Kansas at The opening session of their Senate. It seems Prayer still upsets some People. When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open The new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:
Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask
Your forgiveness and to seek your direction and
Guidance. We know Your Word says, ‘Woe to those
Who call evil good,’ but that is exactly what we
Have done.
We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed
Our values.
We have exploited the poor and called it The lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it Welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it Choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it Justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our Children and called it building self esteem..
We have abused power and called it Politics.
We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions And called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and
Pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values
Of our forefathers and called it enlightenment..
Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts
Today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Amen!
The response was immediate. A number of
Legislators walked out during the prayer in
Protest. Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on
His radio program, ‘The Rest of the Story,’and
Received a larger response to this program than any
Other he has ever aired..
Keemo on February 23, 2009 at 9:11 AM
Truth
Marine_Bio on February 23, 2009 at 9:15 AM
Kinda like syphilis, right?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on February 23, 2009 at 8:51 AM
Herpes.
Just when you thought it would go away!
artist on February 23, 2009 at 9:18 AM
Naaah, Burris will stay in. It will all die down.
O’Bama and the dems really need the vote and they own him now, so no worries about him running off the reservation.
There is no way they will allow a special election. Lose that vote and they would have to get another Republican RINO to go wobbly…..oh sorry, there are lots of those.
Starlink on February 23, 2009 at 9:20 AM
Kicking out corrupt senetors may be aboce Obama’s pay for play grade.
DrAllecon on February 23, 2009 at 9:33 AM
From Bloomberg:
Of course, appearances can be deceiving. I’m wondering what “some full story” means. Does it mean the truth, or some other full story?
unclesmrgol on February 23, 2009 at 9:37 AM
Like the “Blago” report
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/12/23/breaking-obama-finally-releases-report-on-staffs-contacts-with-blagojevich/
there will an attempt to burry this story too.
diogenes on February 23, 2009 at 10:25 AM
The Chicago Trinity of corruption. The bees cross pollinated this mess very well. Mz blago, rezco, Rahm, Michelle, Jarrett, and the second teem all worked for more than one of these coruptocrats. But they calm there can’t be cross contamination.
Blagojevech, Daley and Obama can’t do anything independently.
I am willing to claim that the feds can’t ask questions of Burris and Blago and NOT get answers that include Obama paying to play.
seven on February 23, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Exit question: If the dust and ashes finally settle after the political corruption within Illinois and the presidential appointments, how can Obama be the last man standing amongst the ruins?
Obama is either extremely ignorant and naive (which is not a good characteristic for the leader of the free-world) or just as corrupt.
There can be no other possibilities.
shick on February 23, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Exactly!
shick on February 23, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Of course Fitz is interested in Burris.
It directs attention away from Obama, doesn’t it?
notagool on February 23, 2009 at 10:46 AM
Give a brother a break! My man Burris is being railroaded out of the Senate by that cracker Harry (I’m a Mormon and I hate black people) Reid and we simply cannot allow this to happen!
Burris must stay! We cannot allow this fine example and representative of the fine people of Chicago be expelled. He’s the only black member of the Senate after all!
sabbott on February 23, 2009 at 10:48 AM
I remember that prayer. It is good.
One more thing could have been added.
“We have acknowledgee that you are a God of love but have refused to believe that your love comes as mercy upon sinners who justly deserve your wrath.”
“We have acknowledged that there is evil in the world and are quick to point it out but we refuse to repent of our own sins and in doing so justly bring upon our own condemnation.”
“We have acknowledgee that Jesus christ is good but have failed to hail him all the glory of which he is owed.”
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. – Revelation 5:13-14
shick on February 23, 2009 at 11:02 AM
nope, more like AIDS, fatal (hopefully)
lets see how long it goes on life support
UNREPENTANT CONSERVATIVE CAPITOLIST on February 23, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Obama threw his own grandmother under the bus. Burris will be just a grease spot on the highway if Obama sees any political fallout coming his way from.
Buford on February 23, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Don’t forget our State Treasurer, Alexi Giannoulias whose family runs the last mafia bank in Chicago and who provides the smoking gun link between Blago, Daley, Obama, and Rezko.
Take millions of federal housing funds (Daley), hand them over to “developer” Rezko, wash them through Broadway Bank (Giannoulias) and presto chango, not only does Obama net down tens of thousands of campaign dollars for his senate run, he endorses Giannoulias, and all together they start cooking federal housing money directly into campaign funds.
I find it ironic that Fitzgerald is methodically working his way through all the traps set for him so he fails, which included forcing him to arrest Blago before he was ready.
MarkT on February 23, 2009 at 11:14 AM
“Dear Jeebus, if only you make it so Burris can provide the Feds with a strong link, a direct link, an indictable link, with supporting documentation, between Blago and The One and Illinois corruption, showing that Obama is deep in doggie doodoo an’ the smell can’t come off….pulleeeze, I promise I’ll be good and stop being such a bad boy…and I’ll even cancel my subscription to the Wet Network and burn all my porn.”
My evening prayer before bedtime for the past week or so.
coldwarrior on February 23, 2009 at 11:28 AM
I am absolutely convinced the Fitzgerald pulled the trigger simply because the bidding for the Senate seat was starting to touch upon The One in an unflattering manner. Better to go public when he did before anything “undeniable” occurred on the phone.
I presume we will never know about certain recorded phone conversations. They’ll either be erased or stored inside JFKs skull in the US archives, never to see the light of day.
BobMbx on February 23, 2009 at 11:33 AM
i live in the chicago suburbs just outside of chicago. i am surrounded by a state chock full of retarded liberals. and it just never stops. it never, never, never ends. alaska is looking real good to me lately, and luckily, living in the chicagoland area, i am used to the cold.
Ghoul aid on February 23, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Ooops, I meant above his pay for play grade. That’s what I get for typing too fast while being a quart low on coffee.
DrAllecon on February 23, 2009 at 11:44 AM
If this were a Republican…
Claypigeon on February 23, 2009 at 12:02 PM
In a nutshell.
coldwarrior on February 23, 2009 at 12:03 PM
So many comments with which I whole heartedly agree!
I have not a doubt that Obama’s going to do what’s best for Obama. We haven’t seen any indication that he cares for the decorum or dignity or tradition of the Office of Presidency. As someone wrote last week, he’s running the country like a Chicago ward.
It’s also beyond credulity to think Obama is clean, mired as he is in decades of Chicago and Illinois politics. The trails and connections may just be buried at the moment. Even is he were clean, as Dan McLaughlin pointed out before the election,
INC on February 23, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Yeah, but grandma was just another typical white person. Burris is the only black senator–won’t we be *cowards* if he is thrown under the bus?
OmahaConservative on February 23, 2009 at 12:14 PM
I had not heard about that prayer before–thank you for sharing it.
I like your addition to the prayer. Our pastor has been speaking frequently that his belief is that turning the country around will be done only as people turn to Christ.
INC on February 23, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Our pastor was saying in Adult Bible Study yesterday that public officials are quick to admit making mistakes or errors in judgment but that no one, including the press is willing to label these things as sins any longer.
OmahaConservative on February 23, 2009 at 12:24 PM
That’s true. The disintegration of even holding to a facade of integrity is dreadful.
We’ve also all known that politicians would stretch the truth, but I’ve never seen such casual lying by politicians in statements that can be easily compared with previous public declarations and proven as false.
INC on February 23, 2009 at 12:35 PM
In a sane and rational world, that’d be true.
But, too many forget the First Rule about Obama and those around him, from Chicago to DC.
“It doesn’t matter what Obama (et al.) said. What matters is what they are saying.”
coldwarrior on February 23, 2009 at 1:10 PM
I have a disagreement with you here. Though Obama and liberals are only making things worse. I believe that they believe that they are doing what’s best for this country. Of course their own interests come first but it’s my opinion that they think that their twisting of the law, half-truths and personal gain are all justified by the good that they are doing for their country.
Every tyrant and totalitarian thought he was doing things for the better of others. (Even if they were selective in which others would benefit) They did so while being subjective to their own understanding of right and wrong. In other words they were proto-postmodernists. Like Pilot they all asked, “What is truth?” and refused to recognized that the Lord is the judge of truth.
Good message from a God fearing pastor.
By God’s grace he has sustained much of the goodness of this nation by giving many unbelieving men the wisdom in recognizing certain truths. For example:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. ”
- U.S. Declaration of Independence
But we are in new era in American history. It seems that in some aspect the Lord has withdrawn his grace to both unbelieving men and to those whom claim to know him but are of the world and do not repent of their sins.
One of my new favorite sayings.
God bless America, with repentance.
shick on February 23, 2009 at 1:11 PM
I think the same can be said for most of the great state of Illinois right now.
Kevin71 on February 23, 2009 at 1:28 PM
I was born in Decatur. My parents, thank you Mom and Dad, had the good sense to get out. /s
coldwarrior on February 23, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Hopefully sooner or later one of these scumbags are going to roll over on B. Hussien Obama. The down side of that would be a president Biden and that’s really scary.
TrickyDick on February 23, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Keemo: According to Snopes:
Reportedly, one Democrat walked out of the house in protest, three others gave speeches critical of Wright’s prayer and another blasted Wright’s “message of intolerance”. House minority leader, Tom Sawyer, (also a Democrat), asserted that the prayer, “reflects the extreme, radical views that continue to dominate the House Republican agenda since right wing extremists seized control of the House Republican caucus last year.”
Rep. Jim Long, a Democrat from Kansas City said that Wright, “made everyone mad”. But, Rep. Powell, who had invited Wright in the first place, claimed that House Democrats were only trying to make political points with their criticism and affirmed that he supported the theme of the prayer.
Rev. Wright said afterwards, “I certainly did not mean to be offensive to individuals but I don’t apologize for the truth.” His staff stopped counting the telephone calls about the prayer that came in from every state and many foreign countries after the first 6500 or so.
…Wright later explained, “I thought I might get a call from an angry congressman or two…(t)he problem is, I guess, is that you’re not supposed to get too specific when you’re talking about sin.”
********
Gotta love those tolerant Dems.
SerenityFL on February 23, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Blago and Burris are hands down my new favorite Democrats!
Grafted on February 23, 2009 at 2:10 PM
That’s racist!
Tzetzes on February 23, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Certainly nothing will ever come out of the DoJ. After all, Eric Holder would be a coward and a racist to do anything which might harm the only black Senator.
eeyore on February 23, 2009 at 4:29 PM
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