Feds Grill Burris in Blago Probe

(NEWSER) - FBI recordings of a conversation between Sen. Roland Burris and the brother of disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich can be released to the Senate Ethics Committee, a judge ruled today. The committee is investigating Burris’ appointment by the now-impeached governor, made after Blagojevich was indicted, the Hill reports. The taped conversation occurred before the impeachment and the appointment. More»

Facing foreclosure, Burris II gets housing gig; 'reeks of hypocrisy,' state rep charges

(NEWSER) - Sen. Roland Burris’ son, Roland W. Burris II, got a job with the Illinois housing authority last year, weeks after the IRS imposed a tax lien and his home entered foreclosure, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The appointment came as his father lobbied for Barack Obama’s Senate seat, and Gov. Rod Blagojevich was asking the elder Burris for money. Burris II is not being investigated. More»

Former Blago aide says Burris contacted him repeatedly about appointment

(NEWSER) - Roland Burris’s effort to get into the Senate looks more elaborate every day. John Filan, a former aide to Rod Blagojevich, now says he got a call from Burris some time in the fall, expressing interest in a Senate appointment, the Chicago Tribune reports. Burris reiterated his interest, and asked Filan to “put in a good word for me,” in a Dec. 16 meeting. More»

'Wait-and-see attitude' likely as concerns grow

(NEWSER) - As further concerns emerge about Illinois Sen. Roland Burris’ ties to Rod Blagojevich, DC Democrats hoping to escape the former governor’s shadow are hoping Illinois will address the problem for them, Politico reports. Burris has acknowledged Blago contact that he hadn’t mentioned earlier, and while the senator says he’s done nothing wrong, an Illinois probe could force him to resign or prevent a “serious” 2010 run, Manu Raju writes. More»

(NEWSER) - Roland Burris denied today that an affidavit sent to the Illinois House conveyed a shift in his testimony in the Rod Blagojevich scandal, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. “There was no change,” Burris said of three statements he gave to the committee that recommended Blago's impeachment. Burris also called rumors that he filed the last statement at the request of federal investigators “positively not true.” More»