Burris: 'No quid pro quo'

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris Thursday denied there was any "quid pro quo" for his appointment to the state's vacant U.S. Senate seat.

Testifying before the Illinois House Special Investigative Committee in Springfield, Burris said he was surprised when Sam Adam Jr., an attorney representing scandal-ridden Gov. Rod Blagojevich, contacted him Dec. 26 about filling the seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

Blagojevich has been accused of attempting to sell Obama's seat and the committee earlier Thursday issued a report indicating it would recommend impeachment.

Burris said he told Adam initially he would have to think about the offer and would respond by the following Sunday. He said he then contacted a number of friends around the state to seek their advice. All responded favorably, Burris said.

When he talked with the governor on Dec. 28, the offer was made and Burris said he responded, "Yes I will."

Asked whether he offered Blagojevich anything in return, Burris responded: "I can before this committee state there was nothing, personal or political exchanged for my appointment to the seat. Absolutely positively not."

Burris said he expressed a desire to fill the seat as long ago as July but never would have agreed to any sort of deal.

"Knowing my ethics, I would not participate in anybody's quid pro quo," he said, declining to say whether he would have gone to federal authorities had any favor been sought.

Burris said the last campaign contribution he made to Blagojevich was on June 27, 2008, for $1,000, and acknowledged he sponsored a fundraiser during Blagojevich's last gubernatorial campaign.

Burris said he has resigned from all lobbying activity on behalf of the state and Cook County.

He also said he agreed with the action taken by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan in mid-December, seeking to have the state Supreme Court declare Blagojevich incapacitated.

Asked whether he believed Blagojevich was incapacitated and therefore lacking the authority to make the Senate appointment, Burris said the issue is moot since the court declined to hear Madigan's petition.