Burris Donated Thousands to Blagojevich; Won Contracts

[bijou]

Roland Burris, the former Illinois Attorney General named by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill the U. S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, is a lobbyist who has contributed over $15,000 to the governor’s campaign while also receiving contracts from the state of Illinois.

The Friends of Blagojevich campaign organization Burris donated to is the entity federal prosecutors bugged for evidence that Blagojevich was putting Obama’s seat up for sale to the highest bidder. Transcripts from FBI listening devices and wiretaps suggest the governor repeatedly tried to leverage influence in return for contributions to his campaign committee.

Good government proponents voiced sharp criticism of the Burris appointment to Newsmax on Tuesday. Even though Burris has not been connected to any wrongdoing, they say the appointment could further exacerbate the state’s “pay-to-play” image of political corruption, given Burris’ status as both a Blagojevich donor and a state contractor.

According to Illinois State Board of Elections records, Burris’ donations to Friends of Blagojevich include:


$1,000 on June 27.


$1,500 on Oct.22, 2007.


A $2,500 contribution on March 13, 2006, by Burris’ lobbying firm, Burris & Lebed Consulting, Inc.


A second contribution on March 13, 2006, also from Burris & Lebed Consulting, Inc., in the amount of $1,500.  ...

link

[thundley4]

He is an Illinois politician. Should we be surprised that there was some dirt to be found?

[Eupher]

Is anyone surprised by this? 

[Wretched Excess]

I wonder how doddering harry reid is going to explain how his flip flop on burris (he originally said "NO WAY") was all just a big misunderstanding.

[bijou]

Is anyone surprised by this? 

Well it wasn't mentioned on the tombstone.

[Chris_]

I wonder how much Burris donated to the big zero's Illinois campaigns or to his POTUS campaign.   

[bijou]

I wonder how much Burris donated to the big zero's Illinois campaigns or to his POTUS campaign.   

Contributor Candidate or PAC  Amount  Date  FEC Filing 
Burris, Roland
Chicago, IL 60601
Burris and Lebed Consulting/Princip FOSTER, G. WILLIAM (BIL (D)
House (IL 14)
BILL FOSTER FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE $500
general 10/11/08 

Burris, Roland W.
Chicago, IL 60619
Retired/Elected Official DAVIS, DANNY K (D)
House (IL 07)
DAVIS FOR CONGRESS/FRIENDS OF DAVIS $1,000
primary 12/12/07 

Burris, Roland
Chicago, IL 60619
Burris & Lebed Consulting, LLC/CEO HALVORSON, DEBORAH 'DEBBIE' (D)
House (IL 11)
HALVORSON FOR CONGRESS $500
primary 11/12/07 

Burris, Roland W Mr.
Chicago, IL 60601
Self employed/Attorney/Consultant OBAMA, BARACK (D)
President
OBAMA FOR AMERICA $2,300
primary 02/23/07 

Burris, Roland W.
Chicago, IL 60619
Buford & Peters/Attorney RUSH, BOBBY LEE (D)
House (IL 01)
CITIZENS FOR RUSH $500
general 10/26/06 

BURRIS, ROLAND W
CHICAGO, IL 60619 FORD, HAROLD JR (D)
House (TN 09)
HAROLD FORD JR FOR TENNESSEE $1,000
general 10/14/06 

BURRIS, ROLAND W
CHICAGO, IL 60619
BURRIS & LEBED CONSULTING LLC/CHAIR BIDEN, JOSEPH R JR (D)
Senate - DE
CITIZENS FOR BIDEN $1,000
primary 07/31/06 

Burris, Roland W.
Chicago, IL 60619
Burris & Lebed Consulting LLC BIDEN, JOSEPH R JR (D)
President
BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT, INC. $1,000
primary 07/31/06 

Burris, Roland
Chicago, IL 60619
State of Illinois/ELECTED OFFICIAL JACKSON, JESSE L JR (D)
House (IL 02)
JESSE JACKSON JR FOR CONGRESS $2,000
general 10/22/04 

BURRIS, ROLAND W II
CHICAGO, IL 60601
BURRIS WRIGHT SLAUGHT & TOM LLC OBAMA, BARACK (D)
Senate - IL
OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS INC $1,000
general 09/29/04 

BURRIS, ROLAND W II
CHICAGO, IL 60601
BURRIS WRIGHT SLAUGHT & TOM LLC OBAMA, BARACK (D)
Senate - IL
OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS INC $250
general 09/29/04 

Burris, Roland W.
Chicago, IL 60619
Buford & Peters/Attorney RUSH, BOBBY LEE (D)
House (IL 01)
CITIZENS FOR RUSH $500
general 06/21/04 

BURRIS, ROLAND
CHICAGO, IL 60653
BURRIS WRIGHT SLAUGHT & TOM LLC OBAMA, BARACK (D)
Senate - IL
OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS INC $500
primary 02/21/04

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?last=BURRIS&first=ROLAND

I think Roland Burris II is his son, but it seems that the Burris family have been quite keen on Obama and Biden over the years.

[Eupher]

Well it wasn't mentioned on the tombstone.

 

h5

[debk]

Fox said something earlier about Burris being on the Board of some organization that employs Blago's wife. Sort of convoluted, but I guess it depends on how badly anyone wants to find a connection between Blago and Obama or Burris.