Burris chief of staff resigns

Darrel Thompson, who was on loan from Harry Reid's office, is leaving the embattled Illinois senator behind and returning to his old job.

Published February 20, 2009 10:45PM (EST)

Sen. Roland Burris had a no-good, very bad day on Friday.

First, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said Burris should give up his seat over his changing stories regarding his contacts with Quinn's predecessor, Rod Blagojevich, and his aides. Then, Friday afternoon, Burris' chief of staff resigned.

Darrel Thompson had been loaned to Burris from the staff of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. It was a goodwill gesture aimed at helping Burris to get started quickly after Reid had tried to keep him from taking the seat to which Blagojevich had appointed him. Now, Thompson's going back to his old job as a senior advisor to Reid.

Thompson hasn't explained his decision yet, but it's not too hard to read the writing on the wall.


By Alex Koppelman

Alex Koppelman is a staff writer for Salon.

MORE FROM Alex Koppelman


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Roland Burris War Room