Did Burris buy his senate seat directly from barry?

March 25, 2009

So did Roland Burris bypass Rod Blagojevich all together and buy the seat directly from barry?

Timothy Wright III, Burris’ lawyer donated $50K to barry’s inauguration. A donation so out of proportion to his previous ones, one might conjecture it was a (down) payment for Burris’ senate seat.

Wright and Burris worked together at Burris Wright Slaughter & Tom and then Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan –  Burris as the counsel in chief. They have an entire political history together. Wright was in on the senate appointment from the start.  He was seated bet to him during the impeachment hearings. He was at Burris’ side out in the rain. He prepared the affidavits. And he donated $50,000 directly to barry’s inauguration fund.

Yep. $50K right to barry – no middlemen – no hidden conversations caught on tape – no subterfuge – just cold hard cash. It’s so obvious it seems no one cares. I’ve googled and found nothing. Not unusual because how would it help barry?

Roland Burris said: Certainly no play to play involved cuz I don’t got the money!

That doesn’t mean Wright didn’t have it – he clearly did – and he clearly donated it. The matter is whether the money was somehow funneled from Burris.

Where did the money originate and when was it donated? Was there any mixing of funds between Burris and Wright prior to the donation? Did the funds derive from any retainer Burris provided?

Burris admitted he had campaigned for the senate seat as far back as June 2008. Talks intensified after November 1st. He admitted talking with blago’s brother and campaign finance man, Rod Blagojevich, as well as Blago’s former chief of staff, John Harris, labor leader Ed Smith, Doug Scofield and another former blago chief of staff Lon Monk. Who knows if there are more.

Harry Reid spoke with blago. Valerie Jarrett and Rahm Emanuel spoke with blago and were both interviewed by the feds – as was their fearless leader, barry. barry’s campaign co-chair, Jesse Jackson Jr was revealed to be senate candidate #5, who is alleged to have offered cash to blago for the senate seat.

The FEC doesn’t list the date when the money was donated. It would be interesting to know the timing of it in reference to barry’s minion chat with Harry Reid and Dick Durbin.The Senate was not going to seat Burris and then barry chatted up Reid and Burris got seated. It was the first time barry did anything personally in his official capacity. Something 100% out of character for him.

Burris’ long time friend, coworker, and fellow lawyer, the man who whispered in his ear at the impeachment trial, the man who wrote Burris’ affidavits and legal proceedings donated $50K to barry. $50K to barry’s inauguration, which was markedly out of character to his previous donations. He had actually donated to Hillary Clinton before he did barry.

Bottom line: Burris wanted to be seated. barry said seat Burris. Burris was seated. Burris’ lawyer gave $50K to barry. Put it together however and in whatever order you like. They all are true statements.

Presidential Inauguration Committee:
Timothy Wright, Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan, Chicago, IL $50,000

Roland Burris
Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan LLP Of Counsel (2007-09)
Burris, Wright, Slaughter & Tom LLC Of Counsel (2002-07)
Manager/CEO of Burris & Lebed Consulting (2002-2009)

Timothy Wright III:
Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan
Burris Wright Slaughter & Tom
Chief of Staff for Congressman Bobby L. Rush

Burris Wright Slaughter & Tom:
Roland W. Burris II (son)
William H. Farley Jr.
Kevin E. Slaughter
Darryl Tom
Timothy W. Wright
Roland W. Burris