U.S. Sen. Roland Burris (middle) walks to the University of Illinois Dean's Meeting at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana, Ill. on Wednesday and is introduced by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign chancellor Richard H. Herman (left). The embattled senator said today a newly released transcript of a covert recording by federal agents is proof that he did not engage in pay-to-play politics at the center of the corruption charges against Rod Blagojevich, the man who appointed him.