Ill. governor calls on Burris to resign

CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. Sen. Roland Burris kept out of sight Friday as longtime friend Gov. Pat Quinn joined the roster of fellow Democrats calling for his resignation after new disclosures about his controversial appointment, while the White House urged the senator to take the weekend to consider his future.

Burris began the week with passionate defenses, proclaiming he had nothing to hide even as revelations mounted about his attempts to raise money for his disgraced patron, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and his failures to disclose multiple conversations with Blagojevich advisers.

By Friday, Burris eluded reporters and only repeated pleas through his spokesman to “stop the rush to judgment.” The junior senator scheduled private visits to a veterans medical center and naval training center north of Chicago but did not speak publicly.

Quinn praised Burris, a former Illinois attorney general, as an honorable man and said Friday it would be a “heroic act” for him to put the interests of the state and his constituents ahead of his own.

“It takes a great deal of fortitude and courage to do that, and I think people will recognize that,” Quinn said. “It’s never easy to step aside and resign from anything in life, especially something as important as United States Senate.”

Burris, meanwhile, gave no indication he would heed the calls to give up the coveted seat.

“Like he said before, he’s asked the public and officials to stop the rush to judgment and to allow all of the facts to come out,” spokesman Jim O’Connor said.

Burris testified before the Illinois House committee that recommended Blagojevich’s impeachment in January that he hadn’t contacted key Blagojevich staffers or offered anything in return for the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama. Blagojevich faces federal charges that he tried to sell the seat.

Last weekend, however, Burris released an affidavit saying he had spoken to several Blagojevich advisers, including the former governor’s brother and finance chairman, who Burris said called three times last fall asking for fundraising help.

Burris this week acknowledged trying, unsuccessfully, to raise money for Blagojevich.

Illinois lawmakers have asked prosecutors to look into perjury charges, and a preliminary U.S. Senate Ethics Committee inquiry is under way. State Rep. Jack Franks introduced a resolution urging the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee to expel Burris.

In the event Burris resigns or is expelled, Quinn has implored lawmakers to quickly pass legislation, already introduced by Franks, to fill any Senate vacancy by special election rather than gubernatorial appointment.

Quinn wants the Illinois Legislature to allow him to name a temporary replacement to a vacant seat until a special election could take place. He declined to say whom he might appoint if Burris steps aside.