An undercover tape sought by the Senate ethics committee involves a conversation last November in which U.S. Sen. Burris offered to write a check to the Blagojevich campaign, Burris’ attorney said this afternoon. But attorney Timothy Wright denied Burris made the offer to be appointed to the Senate seat. Wright said no specific amount of money was discussed in the conversation with former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s brother Robert, but Burris typically donated $1,000 or $1,500 each year to Blagojevich’s campaign. He had planned to make the contribution to Blagojevich in mid-December, Wright said, but Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9 on sweeping corruption charges. “He is saying this on the tapes just in the sense of a fundraiser that he has been asked to do,” Wright said. “He’ll write him a personal check is what he says.” No quid pro quo was discussed in the taped call, Wright said, and it was Burris himself who brought up the Senate seat. Burris told Robert Blagojevich that he didn’t know whether he could be involved in any fundraising because of his interest in the Senate seat, Wright said. Earlier today, U.S. District Chief Judge James Holderman said he would release the taped conversation to congressional investigators. Prosecutors had asked to have the tape released to the Senate ethics committee, which is investigating how Burris came to be named to the Senate in the wake of Blagojevich’s arrest for selling the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama. Attorney Michael Ettinger, who represents Rob Blagojevich, said he didn’t object to releasing the tape. “If it was up to us, we’d play it to the public,” Ettinger said. Wright also did not object to the release and said he believed the tape would show Burris did nothing wrong. “We think it is what it is,” Wright said. “The truth is coming out. We think it helps to vindicate the senator.” — Jeff Coen
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Burris taped offering a check to Blagojevich
