Sen. Dick Durbin told the Chicago Tribune Wednesday that the daily revelations about what junior Sen. Roland Burris did and who he talked to among former Gov. Rod Blagojevich insiders are a serious problem.
“I am troubled by this and I hope he will call in some advisers he trusts and get some advice about what to do next,” Durbin said of Burris. “At this point, his future in the Senate seat is in question.”
DURBIN STATEMENT ON SENATOR ROLAND BURRIS
Durbin issued the following statement Wednesday on the evolving situation regarding Burris:
"When we met with Roland Burris in January, we made it clear that in order for him to be seated in the U.S. Senate he needed to meet two requirements - first, that he submit the proper paperwork certifying his appointment, and second, that he appear before the General Assembly's Impeachment Committee to testify openly, honestly and completely about the nature of his relationship with the former governor, his associates and the circumstances surrounding this appointment."
"We asked him to testify in the impeachment proceedings, not to embarrass Roland Burris, but to give him an opportunity to clear the air regarding this appointment from a tainted governor. Our hope was that he would use that opportunity to assure the people of Illinois and the other members of the United States Senate that he was not involved in any wrongdoing."
"Now the accuracy and completeness of his testimony and affidavits have been called into serious question. Every day there are more and more revelations about contacts with Blagojevich advisors, efforts at fundraising and omissions from his list of lobbying clients. This was not the full disclosure under oath that we asked for."
"These news reports and the public statements by Roland Burris himself are troubling and raise serious questions which need to be looked at very carefully."
"The State's Attorney in Sangamon County is reviewing the affidavit and other materials associated with Senator Burris' testimony to see if criminal charges are warranted and the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee has begun a preliminary investigation into this matter."
"This is the appropriate course of action and I await the outcome of those investigations. The people of Illinois deserve nothing less."
Durbin is not alone in his decision to step back from Burris, as more and more Democrats seem to be questioning his conduct.
