Wiretap reveals campaign-donation talk; Burris agonized with governor's brother

CHICAGO — A month before his appointment to the Senate, Roland Burris agonized with the brother of then-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich about how to raise campaign cash for the governor without creating the perception he was buying his way into Congress, according to a federal wiretap unveiled Tuesday.

Burris said he would make a personal donation but worried that both he and the governor could "catch hell" for any campaign help Burris gave as he lobbied for Blagojevich to choose him.

"And if I do get appointed that means I bought it," Burris was recorded telling Robert Blagojevich, the governor's brother and chief fundraiser, in a Nov. 13 call captured during the federal probe that led to Rod Blagojevich's December arrest on corruption charges.

Burris even mentioned having his attorney make the donation — a notion that could have violated state election law against hiding donations. Burris' attorney said he advised against such a move, and Burris never made such a donation and held no fundraisers for Blagojevich.

The transcript provides a behind-the-scenes portrayal of the give-and-take world of Illinois politics. During the conversation, a restless Burris makes a hard pitch for the greatest job of his political career while Robert Blagojevich politely pushes back in an attempt to secure fundraising cash from a longtime supporter.

In the end, little was agreed upon. The conversation adds new detail to the controversy over Burris' Dec. 29 appointment and his often-shifting explanation of his contacts with the Blagojevich camp, providing new fodder for both his defenders and his critics.

The senator and his attorney said Tuesday they welcomed the release of the transcript, done at the request of the Senate Ethics Committee investigating Burris' appointment.

Burris said it bolstered his contention he never did anything inappropriate to win the appointment to the Senate seat vacated by President Obama. Blagojevich announced his selection several weeks after he was charged with trying to sell the seat to the highest bidder.

Robert Blagojevich's attorney, Michael Ettinger, said he did not object to the tape's release because in his view, the recording captured normal political activity.

The Senate committee began its investigation this year amid shifting public comments by Burris about what contact he had with those close to Rod Blagojevich as decisions about the seat were being made.