State Reps Tell Burris to Resign

Evidence on Blago contacts insufficient

(NEWSER) - Sen. Roland Burris will not be charged with perjury for neglecting to tell an Illinois House impeachment panel about additional discussions he had with associates of then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the State Journal-Register reports. While Burris did omit conversations about the Senate appointment with members of Blagojevich’s inner circle, they were “brief” and described by the individuals as “in passing,” prosecutor John Schmidt said. More»

Calls for senator to step down gain strength

(NEWSER) - Federal authorities interviewed Illinois Sen. Roland Burris yesterday as part of the investigation into whether former Gov. Rod Blagojevich tried to sell President Obama's Senate seat, reports the Chicago Tribune. Burris is not a specific target in the Blago case, sources said, but he is being investigated for perjury by the state and the Senate Ethics Committee as more details on his quest for the seat emerge. More»

(NEWSER) - Roland Burris told Rod Blagojevich's impeachment panel today that no shady business was involved in his Senate appointment, Bloomberg reports. “I would never participate in anybody’s quid pro quo,” Burris told Illinois lawmakers. Hours after he testified, the 21-member panel voted unanimously to recommend impeachment, the Tribune notes. The full state House is expected to vote tomorrow. More»

Gov's access to Homeland Security info yanked

(NEWSER) - The Illinois House speaker is calling lawmakers back to session early for a possible impeachment vote on Rod Blagojevich next week, the Chicago Tribune reports. The move could help Democrats block Blago nominee Roland Burris from taking Barack Obama's Senate seat, reports the New York Times. Illinois House officials say Burris will be invited to testify in front of the impeachment committee about how he came to be appointed. More»

(NEWSER) - Roland Burris made it official this afternoon: He won't run for a full term next year, the Chicago Tribune reports. “I love serving the people of Illinois,” the current holder of President Obama's old Senate seat said. But “political races have become far too expensive in this country. And in making this decision, I was called to choose between spending my time raising funds or spending my time raising issues for my state.” More»