SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Raising questions about his appointment to Congress, Sen. Roland Burris admitted in a document released Saturday that former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s brother asked him for campaign fundraising help before the governor named Burris as Illinois’ junior senator.
The disclosure reflects a major omission from Burris’ testimony in January when an Illinois House impeachment committee asked whether he had spoken to Robert Blagojevich or other aides to the now- deposed governor about the Senate seat.
State Rep. Jim Durkin, the impeachment committee’s ranking Republican, told The Associated Press that he and House Republican leader Tom Cross will ask today for an investigation into whether Burris perjured himself.
Burris said he voluntarily gave the committee a Feb. 4 affidavit disclosing the contact with Robert Blagojevich. Burris, a Democrat, said he told Robert Blagojevich he would not raise money because it would look as if he were trying to win favor from the governor for his appointment.
