Tester Calls on Burns to Follow DeLay and Resign
U.S. Senate candidate Jon Tester today called on U.S. Senator Conrad Burns to follow former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and resign from office, saying that investigations into Burns’ dealings with lobbyist Jack Abramoff—and Burns’ continued evasions about that relationship—make Burns unfit to serve Montanans in the Senate.
“Conrad Burns followed his friend Tom DeLay to lobbyists like Jack Abramoff,� Tester said. “Now it’s time for Conrad Burns to follow Tom DeLay out the door.�
“If someone like Tom DeLay can realize it’s time to step down, it has to be clear to Conrad Burns that his time is up,� Tester said.
DeLay announced his intention to resign from the House of Representatives late Tuesday, saying he will not seek reelection in November. Last week, Tony Rudy, Tom DeLay’s former Deputy Chief of Staff, pleaded guilty to corruption charges and admitted to conspiring with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff while working for DeLay. Rudy is cooperating with an investigation into gifts from Abramoff and his clients, including tickets to sporting events, clubs, and expensive trips.
Burns’ former Chief of Staff Will Brooke said in March that he was voluntarily cooperating with an investigation into a 2001 Super Bowl trip funded by Abramoff and his clients. Brooke and Ryan Thomas, another former Burns staffer, went on the trip.
“The worst thing about Conrad Burns’ behavior is that while Jack Abramoff got everything he wanted, average Montanans had to do without what we need: affordable health care, a sensible plan for energy independence, and a government in Washington we can trust,� Tester said.
Posted on Tuesday, April 4th, 2006 at 3:00 pm.
