Roland Burris Untainted: Affidavit Portrays Limited Contacts With Blagojevich

In an effort to prove that he is untainted, Roland Burris submitted an affidavit to the Illinois House impeachment panel that describes his contacts with Governor Rod Blagojevich concerning his controversial Senate appointment. In the affidavit, Burris attests that a lawyer for Blagojevich contacted him on December 26th and scheduled a meeting with him for the same day.

During the meeting Blagojevich's lawyer asked Burris whether he would consider accepting the vacant Senate position if asked. Burris requested two days to think about the matter. Two days later, he expressed his interest in accepting an offer to the lawyer. Blagojevich later made a formal offer, which Burris accepted.

Barbara Flynn Currie, Chair of the Impeachment panel, seems very receptive to Burris's description of his contacts with Blagojevich. According to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article:

Impeachment committee chairwoman Barbara Flynn Currie said today she takes
Burris "at his word" about the sequence of events with his appointment. "Here's
a governor who was arrested weeks ago . . . One of the charges is that he
attempted to get a 'quid' in exchange for this 'quo,'" Currie noted. "Does
anyone in their right mind think he was going to attempt to do that now?"

The article also contains a link to the affidavit: Burris affidavit.

Related Readings on Dissenting Justice:

A Harry Reid Flip-Flop? Comparing His Views on Bill Clinton and Rod Blagojevich

Feinstein Smacks Down Reid and Fellow Democrats Regarding Burris

Joe Lieberman and Rick Warren In, Roland Burris Out: No "Place at the Table" for Senior, Loyal Democrat

On Day That Bill Richardson Announces Withdrawal Harry Reid Softens Rhetoric on Burris

Will Bill Richardson's Case Lead to a Softening of the Rhetoric of "Taint"?

Patrick Buchanan Shows Greater Commitment to Liberal Values Than Senate Democrats, Defends Roland Burris

So When Exactly Does "Change" Arrive? Senate Battle Over Burris and Blagojevich Offers "More of the Same"!

Do Nepotism, Wealth and Dynastic Power "Taint" Kennedy's Likely Senate Appointment? Taking Reid's Arguments Where He Wouldn't Want Them to Go

Some Media Outlets Begin "Palinizing" Roland Burris

On Day That Bill Richardson Announces Withdrawal Harry Reid Softens Rhetoric on Burris

Defiant Blagojevich Names Obama's Successor: Decision Raises Political and Constitutional Questions

Like It or Not, Democracy Prevails: Illinois Supreme Court Refuses to Declare Blagojevich Unfit to Serve

Blago Impeachment: What Would Lincoln Do?

Playing or Paying Politics: Blagojevich, Political DealMaking, and the Difficulty of Drawing Lines

Pick Me! Caroline Kennedy Officially on the Job Market