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Los Angeles Times
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Feb 19, 09 8:57 AM CST
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Whatever problems Roland Burris had being seated in the Senate, they pale in comparison to the problems the Senate will have getting rid of him, the Los Angeles Times reports. Expulsion from the Senate requires a two-thirds vote; the last senators to be formally booted were alleged rebel supporters during the Civil War. "It's a collegial body that doesn't like to police its members," the Senate’s associate historian says.
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Chicago Tribune
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Feb 18, 09 3:08 PM CST
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Roland Burris today urged his constituents to "stop the rush to judgment" as he denied any wrongdoing in the process of gaining his Senate seat, the Chicago Tribune reports. "If I had done the things I’ve been accused of, I’d be too embarrassed to stand up here," he said at a meeting in Chicago. He also fired back at the press, vowing not to "engage the media and have facts drip out in selective soundbites."
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Chicago Tribune
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Feb 18, 09 12:58 PM CST
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Roland Burris is in the Senate embarrassing Illinois, and Rod Blagojevich isn’t the only one on the hook for that, writes John Kass of the Chicago Tribune . A fair share of the blame belongs to Barack Obama, who pressured Senate leaders to seat Burris—a move from which he's profited nicely, getting Burris’ vote on his “pork/stimulus package,” Kass rages.
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Chicago Tribune
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Feb 18, 09 10:07 AM CST
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Time to go, Roland. The Chicago Tribune editorializes today that Sen. Roland Burris should resign, having used up his last shred of credibility by the time he changed his story for the fourth time yesterday—with the story getting "worse with every telling." Whether and how much he actively cooperated with then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s scheme to sell the Obama's former Senate seat, Burris was seated by the Senate on the condition that he testify truthfully—the first time.
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Politico
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Feb 17, 09 7:29 PM CST
(Newser) -
The Roland Burris mess is not going away. It now looks like the Senate Ethics Committee will open an investigation into whether he lied about his contacts with Rod Blagojevich, Politico reports. Back home in Illinois, meanwhile, Democrats are joining Republican calls for a perjury investigation. Burris, who backtracked yesterday and admitted that he had, in fact, tried to raise funds for the former governor at the request of Blago's brother, says he welcomes any and all inquiries. "I have nothing to hide," he said today.
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Politico
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Feb 17, 09 11:25 AM CST
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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.
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Chicago Sun-Times
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Feb 16, 09 1:39 PM CST
(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.”
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Fox News
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Feb 15, 09 5:13 PM CST
(Newser) -
Two Illinois Republicans are calling on Sen. Roland Burris to resign amid allegations he committed perjury during the Rod Blagojevich impeachment hearings, Fox News reports. State representatives Jim Durkin and Tom Cross are also demanding an outside investigation. "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,” Durkin said, the AP reports.
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Chicago Sun-Times
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Feb 14, 09 2:20 PM CST
(Newser) -
Rod Blagojevich's camp asked Roland Burris for money before nominating him to take Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Burris revealed the request, for up to $10,000 in campaign contributions, in an affidavit dated Feb. 5—3 weeks after he was sworn in. Burris didn't mention the request during Blagojevich's impeachment hearing because he "was not given the opportunity," he said.
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Chicago Sun-Times
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Feb 12, 09 7:19 AM CST
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The lawmakers who deposed Rod Blagojevich are “holier than thou” hypocrites, the ex-guv declared on a radio show this morning, saying that Springfield is full of anonymous lawmakers who drink too much and cheat on their wives. “This is how the system in Springfield works,” he said. “Nobody knows who they are. They’re away from their families. It’s a whole different world down there.”
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Men's Journal
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Feb 5, 09 12:15 PM CST
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Rod Blagojevich’s media blitz during his impeachment trial puzzled many, but not his best college bud. “Rod wanted to be Barack, and has been driven to distraction by the press’s fawning over him,” Bill Powell tells Men’s Journal . He recalls college-age Blago, a youthful prankster who—even then—had a passion for his hair, and for outfoxing others.
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Chicago Tribune
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Feb 3, 09 8:28 PM CST
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A little thing like being impeached isn't going to stop Rod Blagojevich from making the media rounds. The ousted Illinois governor showed up on Letterman tonight, and Dave's first question was, "Why exactly are you here, honest to God?" When Blagojevich joked that he's always wanted to be on the show "in the worst way," Letterman responded, "Well, you're on in the worst way, believe me," the Chicago Tribune reports.
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Chicago Tribune
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Feb 3, 09 12:57 PM CST
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Rod Blagojevich said today that shortly after his December arrest by federal authorities, he was approached by “leading senators” who offered him a chance to stay on as an “incapacitated governor,” the Chicago Tribune reports. The deal, which the now-impeached governor rejected, would have been contingent on him not appointing a replacement to Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat.
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Chicago Tribune
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Feb 2, 09 11:45 AM CST
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Though last week’s TV blitz didn’t save his job, Rod Blagojevich is coming back for another round tomorrow, the AP reports. The ousted Illinois governor will start on NBC’s Today and continue into the evening, for interviews with CNN’s Larry King and Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren and a sit-down on CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman .
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