Sen.: Duckworth Delay Not Blago Linked

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The delay in a U.S. Senate committees confirmation of Tammy Duckworth's nomination to a top job in the federal Department of Veterans Affairs is not related to Duckworths connections to indicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a spokesman for the senator who asked for the delay said Friday.

"Its nothing personal relating to Ms. Duckworth or any of her former employers," said David Ward, a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, a North Carolina Republican. "Senator Burr insists on doing his due diligence, just like he would with any nominee."

Duckworth, a Hoffman Estates Democrat, is a disabled Iraq war veteran who campaigned for Congress against U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam in 2006. The Wheaton Republican narrowly edged Duckworth for the seat.

Two weeks later, then-Gov. Blagojevich appointed Duckworth director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

"She has been an inspiration to people all over the country, showing extraordinary personal strength and speaking out on behalf of Soldiers who are coming home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan," Blagojevich said of Duckworth at the time.

Following Barack Obamas election to the presidency, Duckworth was rumored to be under consideration for Obamas U.S. Senate seat or U.S. Rep. Rahm Emmanuels seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Emmanuel is now Obamas chief of staff.

Blagojevich eventually filled Obamas U.S. Senate seat with Roland Burris, shortly before Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office by the General Assembly.

Burr, the top Republican senator on the U.S. Senates Veterans Affairs Committee, said he asked the committee to delay voting on Duckworths nomination until he gets answers to questions he has about the nominee. Duckworth testified before the committee on Wednesday.

Ward said Burrs questions relate to confidential questionnaires Duckworth submitted to the committee. President Barack Obama announced his intention in February to nominate Duckworth to be the face of the federal VA as the assistant secretary of public and intergovernmental affairs. The nomination itself came more than a month later.

A White House spokeswoman had no comment on Duckworths status and the nominee isnt talking to the media until confirmed for the federal post.