Feb. 15 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Senator Roland Burris was asked to help raise campaign funds for Rod Blagojevich before the ousted Illinois governor named him to the seat left vacant by Barack Obama.

The governor’s brother, Rob Blagojevich, asked Burris three times to help with fundraising, according to a Feb. 4 affidavit the senator filed with Democratic state Representative Barbara Flynn Currie, who chaired the Illinois House panel that impeached Blagojevich.

Burris told the House panel on Jan. 8 that the Democratic governor hadn’t asked for money or favors in exchange for the Senate seat. In a letter accompanying the affidavit, Burris’s lawyer said the senator hadn’t been able to “fully respond” to questions.

“While Senator Burris testified truthfully and to the best of his recollection before the impeachment committee, given the fluid nature of the questions and answers between the senator and the committee, and based upon our subsequent review of the hearing transcripts, the senator was unable to fully respond to several matters that were included in questions during his testimony,” lawyer Timothy Wright wrote in the Feb. 5 letter.

Burris, 71, a Democrat and former state attorney general, said in the affidavit that he hasn’t raised or donated money to Blagojevich since attending a June 27, 2008, fundraising event.

Burris has scheduled a press conference for later today.

Perjury Review Sought

Two Republican representatives told reporters in Chicago today that the House impeachment committee should reconvene to ask the state prosecutor in Sangamon County -- where the state’s capital of Springfield is located -- to review the matter for possible perjury charges.

“Mr. Burris had every opportunity in the world to fully describe his relationship with the governor,” said Representative Jim Durkin of Western Springs, the ranking Republican on the impeachment committee.

He and Representative Tom Cross of Oswego said Burris’ newest filing contradicted answers he gave Durkin while testifying and an affidavit he had filed three days before that.

“If you have that much of a memory problem, then maybe you shouldn’t be in the United States Senate,” Cross said of the disparities.

The men also said Currie failed to immediately notify them of the newest Burris filing, a decision Cross said benefited only Democrats.

A voicemail message left with Currie’s Chicago office was not immediately returned.

‘Nothing Inappropriate’

“There is absolutely nothing inappropriate that took place between Governor Blagojevich and Senator Burris in connection to the governor’s appointment of Mr. Burris to the U.S. Senate,” Blagojevich spokesman Glenn Selig said in a statement yesterday. “The governor acted ethically and honestly and believes Senator Burris did too.”

Michael Ettinger, an attorney for Rob Blagojevich, said in an e-mailed statement that his client had no role in the senator’s selection by the former governor.

“My client was not involved with Senator Burris’ appointment at any point and asked Mr. Burris in October to hold a fundraiser because he contributed in 2006,” Ettinger said.

Blagojevich, a two-term Democrat, was arrested Dec. 9 on charges he tried to auction the senate seat vacated by Obama. The governor, who was later released on bond, named Burris to the post on Dec. 30 over the initial objections of his own party.

Unanimous Vote

Blagojevich was impeached by the House on Jan. 9 and removed from office Jan. 29 by a unanimous vote of the 59-member state Senate following a four-day trial. He boycotted the evidentiary portion of the trial, appearing only on its final day to deliver a 45-minute statement.

“I have done absolutely nothing wrong,” Blagojevich, 52, said then. “I’ve followed every law.”

The State Senate barred Blagojevich from again holding public office in Illinois. Lieutenant Governor Patrick Quinn was sworn in later that day as the state’s 41st chief executive. He is also a Democrat.

“I think it would be in the best interests of the state if he resigned,” Durkin said of Burris.

To contact the reporter on this story: Andrew Harris in the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield at aharris16@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: February 15, 2009 16:06 EST