
News Stories
- Judge's Ruling Keeps Burris Out of Special Election
August 2, 2010 - A special election to pick a lame duck? The idea just might fly
July 2, 2010 - Stunning development: Possiblity of two Illinois Senate elections on Nov. 2
June 30, 2010 - Illinois Senate: Roland Burris Could Leave Office Before End Of Term
June 24, 2010 - Who Is Roland Burris?
May 12, 2010 - Barack Obama's old Senate seat in danger of turning Republican
April 5, 2010 - Deal denies ethics violations
March 29, 2010 - Blagojevich Denied Request To Delay Corruption Trial
March 18, 2010 - In Reality Show Debut, Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich Works As Waiter
March 15, 2010 - Are 2010 Dems as corrupt as the 2006 GOP?
March 5, 2010 - Blagojevich's ethics lecture full of laughs -- for audience
March 2, 2010 - Democrats struggle to hold critical 60-seat Senate majority
January 6, 2010 - Democratic candidates for Senate nomination tout ethics
December 11, 2009 - Ethics probes may saddle Democrats in 2010
December 11, 2009 - It's Still Blago's World
December 8, 2009 - Scary Pols Haunt Chicago
October 20, 2009 - Congressional Ethics Inquiries Drag on, Despite Vows to End Corruption
October 17, 2009 - Another Burris Surprise
October 15, 2009 - Goodies Galore: Here's How to Cajole Roland Burris Into Voting for the Heath Care Bill
October 13, 2009 - Watchdog group adds Ensign to list
September 15, 2009
The 15 most corrupt members of Congress
- Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
- Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL)
- Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)
- Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA)
- Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
- Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
- Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
- Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
- Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV)
- Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA)
- Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY)
- Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA)
- Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-IN)
- Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
- Rep. Don Young (R-AK)
Dishonorable mentions
Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL)

Senator Roland Burris (D-IL) is a first-term senator from Illinois, appointed to the U.S. Senate in December 2008 by former Governor Rod Blagojevich to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of then President-elect Barack Obama. Sen. Burris’ ethics issues stem from the circumstances surrounding his appointment.
Conflicting Statements on Senate Appointment
On December 9, 2008, former Gov. Blagojevich was arrested by federal agents for what was described at the time as a “political corruption crime spree.” One of the central allegations against the governor was that he attempted to sell an appointment to the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Obama.
Sen. Burris was elevated to the Senate seat by the governor on December 30, 2008. When questions were raised about the appointment, Sen. Burris proclaimed, “I don’t have any taint from Gov. Blagojevich.” Over the next several months, Sen. Burris offered at least three different explanations under oath of how he came to be appointed to the Senate.
The Senate Ethics Committee launched an investigation into Sen. Burris on February 17, 2009, for repeatedly altering his statements regarding his appointment to the Senate and his contacts with Gov. Blagojevich and the governor’s associates.
On May 26, 2009, transcripts of a conversation between Sen. Burris and the former governor’s brother Rob Blagojevich, captured on a federal wiretap related to the corruption probe of Gov. Blagojevich, were released. In the transcripts, Sen. Burris mentioned his interest in the Senate seat and potentially raising money for the governor. Sen. Burris offered to “give him [Gov. Blagojevich] a check” and “do something at the [Burris’] law firm.” Later in the conversation he pledged to “personally do something.” Sen. Burris also discussed having his attorney make a donation – potentially in violation of Illinois elections law – but the attorney later advised against it.
In the first half of 2009, Sen. Burris did not report paying legal fees. His campaign reported raising $41,230, but carried $138,085 in debt. On April 9, 2009, Sen. Burris revealed that he had “rung up” $500,000 in legal expenses resulting from the investigation into his ties with the indicted governor. According to a spokesperson, Sen. Burris began setting up a legal defense fund, but is awaiting Senate approval.
Although a prosecutor found insufficient evidence to file state charges against Sen. Burris for perjury, federal perjury charges may still lie. Under federal law, anyone who takes an oath that he will testify, declare or offer written testimony that he subscribes to be true, but deliberately offers untrue statements about a material matter, is guilty of perjury.
