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'''Roland Burris''' (b. 1937) is the junior U.S. Senator from Illinois.  In 1978 he became the first African American elected to statewide office in Illinois, and in 1990 was elected state attorney general. Since then he lost a series of primary elections and was considered a minor player in Illinois.  

'''Roland Burris''' (b. 1937), a liberal Democrat, is the junior U.S. Senator from Illinois.  In 1978 he became the first African American elected to statewide office in Illinois, and in 1990 was elected state attorney general. Since then he lost a series of primary elections and was considered a minor player in Illinois.  

He was named by Illinois Governor [[Rod Blagojevich]] to fill the vacant [[U.S. Senate]] seat of President-elect Obama, causeing enormous uproar because  Blagojevich was being impeached for trying to sell that same seat. Blagojevich was convicted and removed from office in January 2009.

He was named by Illinois Governor [[Rod Blagojevich]] to fill the vacant [[U.S. Senate]] seat of President-elect Obama, causeing enormous uproar because  Blagojevich was being impeached for trying to sell that same seat. Blagojevich was convicted and removed from office in January 2009.

[[Image:Burris1.jpg|thumb|290px|to "dissemble" means to conceal information with intent to deceive]]

[[Image:Burris1.jpg|thumb|290px|to "dissemble" means to conceal information with intent to deceive]]

However Burris later admitted that he did not testify truthfully to the committee while under oath. The Democratic speaker of the state legislature has called for an investigation, which may possibly bring criminal charges of perjury. Senate officials are investigating the situation and it may lead to his expulsion from the Senate.  One state representative, a Democrat, sighed that Burris:

However Burris later admitted that he did not testify truthfully to the committee while under oath. The Democratic speaker of the state legislature has called for an investigation, which may possibly lead to criminal charges of perjury. In Washington Senate officials are investigating the situation and it may lead to his expulsion from the Senate.  One state representative, a Democrat, sighed that Burris:

:"wasn’t forthcoming, and that’s the bottom line. I feel betrayed. The real problem here is the question of trust for the citizens of Illinois. We were supposed to rise to the occasion and, again, Illinois becomes the laughingstock for the nation."<ref>John Chase and Rick Pearson, "Burris changes story on Senate seat," [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/chi-roland-burris-rod-blagojevich-090214,0,334648.story ''Chicago Tribune'' Feb. 14, 2009]; Natasha Korecki and Dave McKinney, "Illinois lawmakers mull Burris perjury probe," [http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/02/illinois_lawmakers_mull_burris.html ''Chicago Sun-Times'' Feb. 14, 2009]; Dirk Johnson and Monica Davey, "Burris Tried to Raise Money for Blagojevich' [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/us/politics/18illinois.html?hp ''New York Times''  Feb. 17, 2009] </ref>

:"wasn’t forthcoming, and that’s the bottom line. I feel betrayed. The real problem here is the question of trust for the citizens of Illinois. We were supposed to rise to the occasion and, again, Illinois becomes the laughingstock for the nation."<ref>John Chase and Rick Pearson, "Burris changes story on Senate seat," [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/chi-roland-burris-rod-blagojevich-090214,0,334648.story ''Chicago Tribune'' Feb. 14, 2009]; Natasha Korecki and Dave McKinney, "Illinois lawmakers mull Burris perjury probe," [http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/02/illinois_lawmakers_mull_burris.html ''Chicago Sun-Times'' Feb. 14, 2009]; Dirk Johnson and Monica Davey, "Burris Tried to Raise Money for Blagojevich' [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/us/politics/18illinois.html?hp ''New York Times''  Feb. 17, 2009] </ref>

== References ==

== References ==