Fritchey denies protecting Blago, Burris

State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) said he had no interest in protecting Roland Burris when the now-senator appeared before the Illinois House impeachment committee last month.

Fritchey is catching political fall-out for interrupting State Rep. Jim Durkin's (R-Westchester) questioning of Burris -- questioning Fritchey's critics say could have forced Burris to admit his extensive contacts with Blagojevich's friends before he was sworn in as senator. Fritchey said Tuesday night he was only being "lawyerly" when he objected to Durkin asking Burris about a hypothetical situation.

"In hindsight, my only mistake was perhaps I should have been more political and less like a former prosecutor," said Fritchey Tuesday night at a fund-raiser for his Congressional candidacy at Tavern on Rush thrown for him by his brother-in-law, zoning attorney James Banks, who has a stake in the restaurant.

Burris, who was then trying to be installed as a U.S. Senator, faced a question from Durkin about whether Gov. Blagojevich asked him for any quid-pro-quo in exchange for naming Burris to the senate. Burris said "No."

"If you were aware of a quid pro quo, what would you have done?" Durkin asked.

Fritchey spoke before Burris answered, saying, "Mr. Burris had already stated that he was not aware of any quid pro quo, which answers that question and puts it to rest."

Burris eventually volunteered that he would never accept a quid pro quo.

When Durkin asked Burris, "What were your thoughts upon the arrest of the governor?" Fritchey interjected, "Our mission today is to investigate Rod Blagojevich, not Roland Burris."

Fritchey insisted Tuesday night he was not trying to protect Blagojevich or Burris at that hearing -- he was just, as a former assistant attorney general, trying to safeguard the process.

Fritchey noted he had been vocal in his criticism of Blagojevich. He added he would have no reason to block any information that could have speeded Blagojevich's impeachment, such as the information the Sun-Times revealed Saturday that Burris now admits speaking to several Blagojevich associates about the seat and being asked for a contribution.

That contrasts with the testimony Burris gave the committee and it's the subject Durkin was driving at when Fritchey interrupted him. State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie stated repeatedly throughout the impeachment committee hearings that it was not a court of law and so courtroom-style objections were not in order.