Should Senator Burris resign?
From CNN's Jack Cafferty:
There's a growing chorus of voices who want to take a closer look at how Roland Burris was appointed to the U.S. Senate by now-ousted Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.
Many officials in Illinois want to take a closer look at how Burris was appointed to the Senate.
An affidavit recently filed by Burris shows he had more extensive contact with the former governor's people than he previously acknowledged. The affidavit shows Burris spoke on several occasions with Blagojevich's brother, who hit him up for $10,000 in campaign money. Burris says he didn't raise or donate any money after June and insists there's nothing inconsistent in what he said during Blagojevich's impeachment trial and the affidavit. The Illinois senator says he has "absolutely nothing to hide" and that he'll testify in front of anyone to prove it.
But that might not cut it. Illinois Republicans started calling for a perjury investigation by a county prosecutor. And now Democrats are getting in on the action too. The Democratic Attorney General is calling the affidavit a "particularly frustrating revelation" and wants a deeper investigation into his actions.
Meanwhile, the Democrats on Capitol Hill have probably had their fill of this sideshow in Illinois. Majority Leader Harry Reid apparently knows about the affidavit and is looking into it. Reid's office says "clearly it would have been better" if Burris had provided this information when he first testified. No kidding.
Burris was appointed by Blagojevich 3 weeks after the governor was arrested on corruption charges, including an attempt to sell Obama's Senate seat.
Here’s my question to you: Should Roland Burris resign from the U.S. Senate?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Sen. Burris: Why did Reid and Durbin cave in?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
It's official: Roland Burris will be sworn in and officially seated in the United States Senate later this week. He fills the seat vacated by President-elect Obama.
Why did Reid change his mind?
This comes after a circus of events that started with Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich allegedly trying to sell the seat. Then he refused, and does to this day, to resign from his post. Last week, Blagojevich was impeached by the Illinois legislature. But in a brazen show of arrogance, and perhaps as a way of calling Harry Reid's bluff, Blagojevich went right ahead and appointed Roland Burris. As promised, the Senate refused to seat him.
When Burris was named, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and others quickly said they would reject anyone appointed by Governor Blagojevich.
Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, number two in the Senate, initially said the fate of the vacant seat should wait until Blagojevich is removed from office.
And there was no shortage of lawmakers issuing statements or rushing in front of cameras to speak their minds. But look what can happen in a week. Burris met behind closed doors with Reid. Democratic Senators suddenly changed their tune and now they will welcome Burris with open arms as their new colleague.
Here’s my question to you: Why did Senators Harry Reid and Dick Durbin cave in and agree to seat Roland Burris as President-elect Obama's Senate replacement?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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