Judge okays release of Blago bro and Burris wiretap to Senate ethics committee

A federal judge in Chicago authorized the release of a secretly recorded telephone conversation to the Senate Ethics Committee between Robert Blagojevich, the brother of disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich as well as the finance chairman of Friends of Blagojevich, and current US Senator Roland Burris (D-IL).

The ex-governor was arrested in December for allegedly trying to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat.

The committee is investigating inconsistencies in Burris' testimony in front of the Illinois House Impeachment Committee regarding "pay to play."

Burris has legal problems in Springfield as well. The office of Sangamon County State's Attorney John Schmidt is conducting an investigation of the Chicago Democrat related to that same testimony.

Burris and Blago were opponents in the 2002 Democratic gubernatorial primary. Then-State Senator Barack Obama endorsed Burris in that contest.

Related post:

Sangamon County state's attorney still investigating Burris

Technorati tags: Blagojevich Illinois Politics corruption Illinois Democrats senate Roland Burris crime impeachment Barack Obama Obama