Burris Is on Tape Offering Check for Blagojevich in November

By DOUGLAS BELKIN
WSJ

CHICAGO -- Sen. Roland Burris offered to deliver a campaign check to then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich in a conversation taped by the Federal Bureau of Investigation last November, according to Mr. Burris's lawyer.

The tape is being turned over to the Senate Ethics Committee, which has been probing Mr. Burris's appointment by Mr. Blagojevich, who faces a federal criminal trial and was removed from office this year.

The tape has not been made public, but the lawyer, Timothy Wright, said Mr. Burris decided not to deliver the check because he considered himself a candidate for the Senate seat.

In previous testimony, Mr. Burris has said he never sent money to Mr. Blagovjevich during the time he was being considered for the seat, but he never said he had offered to send money. On the tape Mr. Wright said Mr. Burris said something like: "I'll try and do something personally."

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