• Roland Burris is the junior Senator for the state of Illinois. He was appointed to the post by former governor Rod Blagojevich in 2008. The seat became available after former Illinois senator Barack Obama was elected president and resigned his senate seat. Burris was officially sworn in on January 15, 2009, under media scrutiny.http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/blagojevich-to-name-burris-to-senate.html http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/14/standoff-senate-prepares-welcome-burris/

  On July 9, 2009, it was reported that Burris will not seek a re-election after the end of his term in 2010 and that he would formally announce this the following day.http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-us-burris-senate,1,5483627.story

• Fast Facts

  1. Age: 71 (as of December 2008)
  2. Political affiliation: Democrat
  3. Manager & CEO of Burris & Lebed Consulting LLC political consulting firmForbes: Roland W. Burris
  4. Acts as legal counsel for Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan LLP law firmForbes: Roland W. Burris
  5. Burris gave more than $20,000 to Blagojevich's campaignChicago Breaking News: Blagojevich snubs Senate, taps Burris for seat (December 30, 2008)
  6. His consulting company has received more than $290,000 in state contractsChicago Breaking News: Blagojevich snubs Senate, taps Burris for seat (December 30, 2008)
  7. Illinois comptroller from 1979 to 1991
  8. Illinois attorney general from 1991 to 1995
  9. Ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic primaries for governor of Illinois in 1994, 1998 and 2002
  10. Ran an unsuccessful campaign for mayor of Chicago in 1995WGN Radio: Blagojevich To Appoint Roland Burris to Obama's Senate Seat (December 30, 2008)
  11. The first African-American to be elected to Illinois state officeWall Street Journal: Blagojevich to Name Burris to Fill Senate Seat (December 30, 2008)
  12. Supported the confirmation of Eric HolderMSNBC.com: Senator Burris Speaks Up (February 2, 2009)

• Affidavit Controversy

  During state impeachment proceedings against Blagojevich, Burris said he had not spoken to anyone about campaign contributions, but on February 5, 2009, he filed an affidavit amending his testimony to state that he had been approached by Blagojevich's brother Robert for a contribution, but had refused to help. On February 16, 2009, Burris admitted that in fact he had attempted to gain campaign contributions for Blagojevich while he was in negotiations for the Senate seat. Chicago Breaking News: Burris acknowledges fundraising effort for Blagojevich (February 17, 2009)

• Document Signing Issue

  On January 9, 2009, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White certified Burris' Senate appointment document as "true and accurate," although he did not endorse Burris' official appointment papers. The state supreme court had ruled that White did not have to sign the appointment papers, although his signature on the documents is required by the Senate. A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that Senate lawyers would review the papers signed by White.Politico: Burris gets OK from Illinois sec. of state (January 10, 2008) A Burris adviser reported that Burris may return to the Senate and demand to be sworn in as senator as early as January 12.Reuters: Burris may return to the Senate next week (January 10, 2008) Burris was officially sworn in on January 15, 2009.Fox News: Standoff Over, Senate Welcomes Burris (January 15, 2009)

• Appointment Controversy

  Although Burris expressed interest in the vacant Senate seat since Obama was elected president, sources close to Blagojevich reported that the governor did not seriously consider him for the position. While Blagojevich holds the authority to appoint Obama's replacement to the Senate, in the wake of his December 9, 2008, arrest on federal corruption charges, Democratic senators stated that they would not accept any appointment he made. In mid-December, Blagojevich's defense lawyer Ed Genson stated that the governor would not name a successor to the vacant seat and Blagojevich himself agreed that the best course of action to find a replacement may be to hold a special election.Chicago Breaking News: Blagojevich to name Burris to Senate (December 30, 2008)

• "Will Not Be Seated"

  "We say this without prejudice toward Roland Burris's ability, and we respect his years of public service. But this is not about Mr. Burris; it is about the integrity of a governor accused of attempting to sell this United States Senate seat. Under these circumstances, anyone appointed by Gov. Blagojevich cannot be an effective representative of the people of Illinois and, as we have said, will not be seated by the Democratic Caucus."—Democratic Caucus, U.S. SenateChicago Sun Times: Blagojevich names Roland Burris to Obama's Senate seat (December 30, 2008)

• Obama on Appointment

  President-elect Obama said in a statement that he is "extremely disappointed" that Blagojevich chose to appoint the Senate seat despite the controversy and Democratic leaders urging him not to. Obama said Burris is a "good man and a fine public servant," but that he supports the decision by the Democratic caucus not to seat Burris due to the controversy. Obama also said Blagojevich should resign.Bloomberg: Obama Supports Democrats’ Decision Not to Seat Burris (December 30, 2008)

• Burris' Response

  Burris side-stepped questions about Blagojevich while on The Today Show on December 31, 2008. During his interview, he said no one had questioned the governor's authority to make an appointment. He did bring up the question of race, however, noting that there are currently no African-Americans serving in the United States Senate.Huffington Post: Roland Burris On The Offensive... (December 31, 2008)

  Senate officials rejected his credentials and refused to seat him on the first day of the new Congress, because his paperwork did not have the required signature of Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.CNN: Roland Burris Arrives at Senate Amid Media Circus(January 6, 2008) On January 12, 2009, officials from the U.S. Senate stated that Burris had been certified to fill the position.Fox News: Burris Certified to Fill Obama's Vacated U.S. Senate Seat (January 12, 2009)

  Burris spoke more directly about the appointment of him to the Senate on the CNN news show American Morning on January 13, 2009. Burris said he could understand why some people objected the appointment, but that he always knew it was legal. Burris also said had he wanted to be a public servant since a young age. He said he does not yet know if he wants to run for re-election in 2010, when his term will end.CNN: Burris: 'I knew my appointment was legal' (January 13, 2009)

• Campaign Contribution Controversy

  On February 13, 2009, an affidavit from Burris dated February 5 disclosed that Blagojevich's brother Robert had asked him for a $10,000 campaign contribution before Blagojevich named him to the Senate. Burris did not disclose that when in front of an Illinois House impeachment panel.Chicago Sun Times: Blago hit up Burris for cash (February 14, 2009)

  The revelation resulted in Illinois Republican leaders calling for a perjury investigation into Burris, since he did not reveal the request to the impeachment panel. Burris has said he did not donate or help raising the money Robert asked for. He has also said that although he did not disclose the information before the panel, the testimony was not inconsistent with the later information. He said he had been asked to follow up with the panel regarding any information that was left out during the hearing, and that he had done so after getting the information the panel had asked for. Robert's attorney responded to the information by confirming that he has asked for a donation, but that he was not aware at that time that Burris was "in the running for the U.S. Senate seat."CNN: Burris says statements were consistent (February 16, 2009)

  At a Democratic dinner in Peoria on February 16, 2009, Burris contradicted his affidavit, telling media sources that he had in fact talked to some people about a fund-raiser for Blagojevich, but failed to get any donors, after which time he told Robert Blagojevich that it was "inappropriate" for him to be raising money.Chicago Breaking News: Burris acknowledges fundraising effort for Blagojevich (February 17, 2009)

  On May 27, 2009, Burris repeated his denial in the involvement of the pay-to-pay scheme for the open Illinois senate seat that forced Blagojevich out of office. Burris' reiteration came one day after a ruling that sent recordings of taped conversations between Blagojevich's staff and Burris about vacant senate seat to the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104607470 On June 19, 2009, an Illinois prosecutor announced that he was not intending to charge Burress with perjury, stating that the conversations in question were "vague" and not incriminating enough for formal charges.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/20/us/20burris.html

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Obama Senate Seat | Rod Blagojevich | Rod Blagojevich Arrested | Illinois | Blagojevich Impeachment | Jesse White | Aaron Schock | Jan Schakowsky | Sonia Sotomayor

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