On CSPAN now.
Burris is doing terribly in his testimony before the Blago impeachment Committee.
He was asked whether he talked to Lon Monk about the Senate seat. He said yes. Lon Monk is Lobbyist 1 in the Complaint, the guy who Fitz has also taped, not least in the horse-racing venture that Fitz was willing to release to the impeachment committee.
And now Durkin, the Republican ranking member on the committee, has noted that a $1.2 million donor (Telephone USA Investments/Joseph Stroud) to Burris has only given to one other politician: Blago. Burris and his lawyer are now trying to back out of answering details about this loan. Burris justgave a non-answer about whether or not the loan was "forgiven"–he basically said he had no way of repaying it, though he didn’t say the loan had been repaid.
Back on Lon Monk: "As lobbyists, we see how we can help each other."
Lots of questions from Republicans about whether or not he has been making promises not to run in 2010.
Rut roh. Now the Republicans are bitching that the draft report was released this morning.
"Those of us downstate often see more clearly because there’s not as much airpollution as there is in Chicago."
Asking about Burris’ partner talking with Patti Blago about employment gig. Burris says he knows nothing about it.
Eddy: Why was the Governor’s criminal defense attorney calling you about the seat?
Genson: He’s not the criminal defense attorney.
Eddy: When Adams called you, in what capacity?
Burris: Adams is a good friend of my son, I helped raise him to some degree. I treated it as being counsel to governor.
Eddy: I’ve seen Adams sit in this committee as defense counsel of governor. Nothing relating to criminal complaint relating to appointment at all?
Davis: Will you get Blago’s security clearance back?
Burris: I don’t know what authority I would have. It’s something that would come to my attention–I’d check with Durbin.
Rose: "Designee Burris."
Now discussing Burris’ December 08 presser to bid for the seat.
Tracy: The 1.2 million campaign donation: what kind of business?
B: He owns TV stations.
Tracy: Does he have any contracts with the state of IL.
I see him socially.
Tracy: Is it understood it will never be repaid.
B It has never come up since I lost the primary in 02.
Tracy: Do you recognize your appointment not under idea circumstances? What I’m trying to establish, I believe that you have qualification. What we have to consider is people of state of IL.
Bellock: Did you mean it when you assured the people of IL that Blago would not appoint?
Genson: I didn’t assure anyone.
Bellock: To hear that Adams came back to request that you have that appointment, seems highly irregular. People were assured appointment would not be made. No matter who made that statement, in testimony today, it seems highly irregular statement made and two weeks later Adams come forward.
Burris: No knowledge.