Feds interview Burris, but say he is not a target in Blago case

Federal authorities interviewed Sen. Roland Burris for several hours yesterday hoping to glean information into the ongoing case against ex-governor Rod Blagojevich, who allegedly tried to sell President Obama's senate seat for political or personal gains, the Chicago Tribune reported last night.

The junior senator from Illinois has come under fire lately for omitting details about his contacts with the former governor's brother, Robert Blagojevich, and other key Blago staff members before his appointment. Burris is not a target in the Blago corruption investigation, sources told the Tribune, and the meeting was unrelated to federal and state investigations into Burris' ever changing testimony about whether or not he tried to raise money for a Blago campaign.

The interview had been delayed for weeks and took place downtown in Burris' lawyer's offices on Saturday. Burris told the media at a press conference last Sunday that federal investigators had indeed contacted him and wanted to speak with him about the circumstances surrounding his appointment. Burris continues to deny his engagement in any wrongdoing to obtain his post.

Mayor Daley declined to follow Governor Quinn's suit in asking for the senator to resign.

"Let's put everything in perspective and give him an opportunity to explain himself," Daley told reporters on Saturday. "Every time something happens, people want everybody to resign. Is it becoming very common now to tell people to resign after he was appointed?"