CHICAGO, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., was asked for up to $10,000 in campaign cash by the brother of impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, records show.
An affidavit dated Feb. 5, three weeks after Burris was sworn in to replace President Barack Obama in the Senate, Burris confirmed that Robert Blagojevich, the former governor's brother and chief fundraiser, asked Burris for a contribution before the governor appointed him to fill the Senate seat -- something Burris failed to acknowledge earlier, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Saturday.
The sworn statement was provided by Burris to the newspaper Friday in response to its questions about his contacts with the Blagojevich camp about fund-raising. It revealed an episode the senator failed to disclose under oath before an Illinois House impeachment panel, the Sun-Times said.
Rod Blagojevich is facing charges of attempting to sell the Senate seat in exchange for campaign contributions or personal favors.
Burris says he turned down Robert Blagojevich's request for a contribution, telling the newspaper.
"There were several facts that I was not given the opportunity to make during my testimony," Burris said. "I voluntarily submitted an affidavit so everything was transparent."
