Sen. Burris's legal bills piling up

BELLEVILLE, Ill., April 10 (UPI) -- Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., says he has accumulated $500,000 in legal bills stemming from his appointment to the U.S. Senate by ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Burris says investigations into his contacts with the impeached governor have cost him that much so far, the Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat reported Friday.

Both the Senate Ethics Committee and the Sangamon County state's attorney are looking into the testimony Burris gave in January to an Illinois House panel.

Burris told lawmakers he didn't have contact with the governor's brother or aides about being appointed to the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.

A month later it was disclosed that Blagojevich's brother had sought campaign donations from Burris.

During an appearance in Illinois earlier this week, Burris declined to say whether he'll run for election next year, mystateline.com reports.