Burris perjury probe could be nearing end
Senator interviewed this week by downstate prosecutor
SPRINGFIELD — A downstate prosecutor interviewed Sen. Roland Burris this week — a likely sign a perjury investigation into the state's junior senator is nearing an end.
Burris met with Sangamon County State's Attorney John Schmidt on Monday to discuss seeming contradictions in Burris' testimony before a legislative panel that had questions about events leading to his December appointment by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was later impeached.
"He felt the interview was a fair interview, and that's all I can say about it," said Delmarie Cobb, Burris' media and political adviser.
"Our position is he hasn't done anything wrong and hasn't perjured himself," she said.
Schmidt, who declined to comment, launched an investigation in mid-February into whether Burris deliberately misled the House committee that recommended Blagojevich's impeachment. The Senate Select Committee on Ethics opened its own probe simultaneously.
Schmidt is expected to make an announcement after he determines whether to charge Burris with perjury.
On Jan. 4, Burris signed an affidavit stating that neither he nor any of his representatives had spoken with Blagojevich or his representatives prior to Dec. 26 about securing the Senate seat vacated by President Obama.
Burris expanded upon that version four days later under questioning by the House Special Investigative Committee. Burris told the panel he had expressed interest in the seat during a summer 2008 encounter with lobbyist and former Blagojevich chief of staff Lon Monk.
Then, as the Chicago Sun-Times reported Feb. 14, Burris, in a second affidavit, offered new details about his push for the appointment within Blagojevich's inner circle. In it, Burris acknowledged discussing an appointment with five people close to Blagojevich — including the ex-governor's campaign chief and brother, Robert Blagojevich.
During the earlier committee hearing, Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) specifically asked Burris whether he'd discussed his interest in an appointment with Robert Blagojevich, and Burris responded only about his discussion with Monk.
Burris' Nov. 13 discussion with Robert Blagojevich was caught on a federal wiretap. Burris promised the governor's brother he would send the governor a check by Dec. 15 but later said he didn't write that check because he thought it would be improper. Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9.