Blago's Payoff

Rod Blagojevich's appointment of Roland Burris to Obama's Senate seat looked like a masterstroke, but it appears the ousted Illinois governor's plan had a fatal flaw: his love of money. Blago's brother Robert solicited Burris for up to $10,000 in campaign cash before he was named to the post—something the new senator initially failed to disclose while under oath before an Illinois House impeachment panel. Burris did not give money to Blago's campaign fund, and told the panel Jan. 8 that he had not been aware of any quid pro quo for the seat. But in an affidavit dated Feb. 5, he acknowledges being hit up for the cash. The Chicago Sun-Times points out that Burris' latest statement is his third version of events surrounding his appointment to the vacant Senate seat.