Burris denies Blagojevich 'pay-for-play'

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CHICAGO, May 27 (UPI) -- A combative U.S. Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., said Wednesday he has never participated in any political pay-for-play schemes involving his Senate seat.

Meeting with reporters outside his Chicago home, an agitated Burris said he in no way raised any money for impeached former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich in return for his appointment to the state's vacant U.S. Senate seat, The Chicago Tribune reported.

"I did not give him any money, and I did not raise any money," he said, one day the after release of a transcript of a wiretapped conversation between Burris and Blagojevich's brother and chief fundraiser, Robert, in which Burris offers to "personally do something" for the disgraced governor's campaign fund.

In prepared remarks, Burris said "didn't know anything about the pay-to play," but when questioned by reporters about the transcript, he angrily demanded they refer to an affidavit he filed in which he gave an account of his dealings with Blagojevich, the newspaper said.

"I didn't give him any money and I didn't raise any money. Please check the affidavit, please check the affidavit. Read 'affidavit one.' Have you read it? have you read it? No, no, have you read it? God bless you," Burris reportedly said.