Republicans Demand That Burris Resign From Senate
When Burris was fighting hypocritical Democrats who, while denying him his seat in the Senate, were trying to seat not-yet-elected Al Franken I was supportive of Burris being seated. At the time there was no indication that he’d done anything wrong. He was simply Governor Blagojevich’s pick for the Senate, made in a perfectly legal fashion.
But now it’s come to light that Burris was solicited by Blago for a contribution in exchange for making the appointment, and that Burris didn’t report this to federal authorities. And now I agree with Rep. Jim Durkin that Burris should resign after this revelation.
An Illinois Republican leader says the state’s freshman U.S. senator should resign over contradictory statements regarding Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment.
State Rep. Jim Durkin told reporters Sunday that Democrat Roland Burris should resign over an affidavit contradicting statements he made earlier to a House committee.
Durkin also wants Burris investigated for possible perjury.
Gov. Pat Quinn also says Burris owes a full explanation. Burris plans a news conference later Sunday.
An affidavit released Saturday indicates Blagojevich’s brother asked Burris to host a fundraiser for the governor before Burris was appointed to the vacancy left by Barack Obama. That reflects a major omission from January testimony.
Failure to report a crime is a crime in and of itself. Burris should be held accountable for this.
But Democrats will balk at such accountability. Partly because it would put more scrutiny on an already nasty Democrat scandal, but mostly because it wouldn’t contrast well with the Obama administration not being held accountable of failing to report Blago’s solicitation of money in return for a favorable-to-Obama appointment.
We know that Obama rebuffed Blago’s attempts to get some quid pro quo, but by denying Blago the Obama people admit that they knew Blago was trying to sell the Senate seat. There has been nothing released to date to indicate that Obama and/or his people contacted federal authorities to report Blago’s illegal and unethical behavior, so is the Obama administration not just as guilty as Burris in essnetially being complicit in Blago’s crimes?
Of course, but don’t expect Obama (who campaigned on transparency and accountability, by the way) to take some responsibility. Or even be taken to ask by the fawning press corps that follows him about.
