Senator Roland W. Burris of Illinois on Sunday defended his evolving descriptions of conversations he had with allies of former Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich in the months before Mr. Blagojevich appointed him to fill the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama. "I did not donate one single dollar, nor did I raise any money or promise any favors of any kind for the governor," Mr. Burris, a Democrat who was sworn in as a senator a month ago, said at a contentious news conference.Mr. Burris tried to explain why he did not mention three phone conversations with Mr. Blagojevich's brother -- in which he now says he was asked for fund-raising help -- during testimony last month before a committee of state lawmakers weighing whether to impeach Mr. Blagojevich. "Anyone who suggests otherwise," Mr. Burris added, "or would insinuate that my testimony in person or in writing is anything other than fully compliant with the committee and consistent with the truth is simply playing at partisan politics."
Mr. Burris said that none of his comments had been inconsistent and that he had hidden nothing, telling reporters, "If you all report this correctly, this is no story."