Burris Maintains Innocence, Defends Statements In FBI Wiretap Transcript

Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) insisted today that he had no involvement in a "pay to play" scheme with ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a day after the FBI released a transcript in which the liberal Illinois Democrat said he would "personally do something" to help the governor's campaign. As you know, he was appointed by the former governor to fill President Barack Obama's old seat. Sen. Burris is currently the only black in the U.S. Senate. Below is a video from ABC Chicago from late this afternoon, which includes Sen. Burris lashing out at the press:


Sen. Burris still plans to run for election, even though his approval ratings are in single digits, he can't raise campaign funds, and the Senate Ethics Committee is on him LOL. However, I haven't heard anything yet that is quid pro quo. To me, the tapes sound like he was on the up and up. However, what is going to do him in was not revealing early on that he had contact with Blago's brother (who was fundraising chief for Blago). Instead he originally claimed that he had no such contact and that he didn't promise to pay any money (he does promise a personal contribution on the tape, but didn't follow through). He has changed his story five or six times. Not good.