1 of 2 | Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) gives a thumbs-up before a prayer and support vigil held for him at the New Covenant Baptist Church in Chicago on March 1, 2009. Burris, who was appointed by embattled former Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is facing increasing calls for his resignation amid allegations of impropriety involving his appointment. (UPI Photo/Brian Kersey) |
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill., March 6 (UPI) -- An Illinois prosecutor probing U.S. Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., has asked federal prosecutors for any recordings they made of him, a newspaper reported Friday.
The Chicago Sun-Times cited sources who said Sangamon County State's Attorney John Schmidt has focused on conversations between Burris -- appointed to the U.S. Senate by ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich -- and Robert Blagojevich, who headed his brother's campaign fund. Schmidt, a Republican, is investigating whether Burris committed perjury when he testified before the committee considering Blagojevich's impeachment.
A state Senate subcommittee Thursday rejected a measure that would have authorized a special election to fill the Senate seat formerly held by Barack Obama. The 3-2 vote was along party lines.
When he was first named to the Senate, Burris denied any suggestion of a quid-pro-quo with Blagojevich. But that claim keeps being challenged.
An associate, John Ruff, told the Sun-Times he got a telephone call from Fred Lebed, a Burris aide, on the day Burris was named to the Senate. Lebed said, "We'll have to do some things for the governor," the associate, Ruff, claimed.
Ruff also recalled Lebed saying he had had discussions with Blagojevich representatives in October about Burris' interest in the seat, which contradicts Burris's sworn statement that is part of a state perjury investigation.
Lebed acknowledged speaking with Ruff, but called Ruff's claims "totally false," the Sun-Times said.
