This morning the New York Times has an editorial on the wiretape of a conversation between Roland Burris and then Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, which I posted on yesterday:
With the scandal raging, Mr. Burris should have had enough sense to decline the post. But he wanted to be a senator, and now he insists that the wiretap backs his (current) version of events and he never paid to play. Only in Illinois might a politician claim a clean bill of health from a wiretap that flatly contradicts his initial claim under oath of a clean bill of health. We hope Senate ethics investigators stick to the task of tracking Senator Burris’s unraveling tale.
Is confessing that you perjured yourself a reasonable defense for the charge that now Sen. Burris “paid to play”? Only in Illinois!
From the Chris Matthew’s interview last night, Burris’ defense is that he was lying to Blago’s brother. In legal parlance, I believe this is called Deciptientibus, non deceptis, jura subveniunt = the laws help persons who are deceiving, and not deceived.
Matthews seemed incredulous that Burris was for real, but Matthews didn’t seem to know that there are separate perjury issues from the pay-to-play issues.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago is announcing a public corruption charges this afternoon. Trib is saying its an “elected official,” which would apear to rule out Burris.
The pool of prospects isn’t particularly small.
Sun Times reporting its Ald. Ike Carrothers (29th), the chairman of the City Council’s police and fire committee.