Montana Sen. Conrad Burns reiterated Monday in Missoula that he has done nothing wrong, is not under investigation that he knows of, and is more eager than ever to campaign for re-election to the U.S. Senate.

Burns talked at length with the Missoulian's editorial board about the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling scandal and the cloud it has created around him. He claimed politics are at the bottom of connecting him to Abramoff.

"We've done nothing wrong as far as we know and as far as anybody else knows," Burns said. "We're not under investigation and I'm sure if we were the Justice Department or Ethics Committee would have notified us, and they have not done that."

Burns did say it's possible an investigation that includes his office could be under way and, if it is, he might not be notified until later. But his office has offered to give the Justice Department any information it wants and has not received a response.

"The big thing they were looking at is how this man (Ambramoff) ripped off the tribes across this country," Burns said, "and took a little over $80 million, didn't really give anything back to the tribes or even represent them very good in Washington."

Burns said nothing else has been said about his operation except that it helped get a $3 million appropriation to build an Indian school on a reservation where "those buildings were in such bad shape that you wouldn't keep livestock in them."

"Now isn't that terrible," Burns said, "when we are obligated as a nation under the treaties of this country to build infrastructure and especially to educate the young folks that live on our reservations."

Burns said it was the right thing to do and he would do it again today under the same circumstances.

As for his relationship with Abramoff, Burns said he could recall having met with him only once in the late 1990s. He also said his campaign - and not him personally - received $150,000 from Abramoff, and that the campaign contribution was unsolicited. Burns added that no one in his Senate office is allowed to accept campaign dollars.

Asked if he was concerned about the perceptions raised by the connection of his name to Abramoff, Burns said: "I deal in truth. I don't deal in perceptions." Has he made mistakes in the Abramoff situation? Burns said if hindsight is 20-20 - knowing what he knows today - there are things he probably would have done differently.

Talking about the huge number of registered lobbyists who descend on Washington in an effort to influence policy or legislation, Burns said the "vast majority of them are good people.

"They represent their views and the views of their client just like any attorney would do," he added. "And the really good ones would tell you, 'This is our position but there's a downside to this position also.' "

Burns said Abramoff "took advantage of the system for his own greed, and he got caught, and I would imagine he will go to jail."

Burns said when a lobbyist comes to his office it's his job not to judge the individual but the issue.

"I vote philosophy first," Burns said, "and Montana is my primary special interest."

Burns said that if, in the coming months, the Justice Department informs him that he is under investigation he will give the department access to all of his records. But the senator speculated that the Justice Department is building their case on Abramoff.

In his 17th year in the Senate, Burns said he will take his story to the people of Montana.

"My job is to benefit people, not special interests," Burns said. "Every vote you cast is based on your philosophy and a judgment call."

"I love the state," Burns said. "It's been good for Conrad. Do you think I'd just throw all of that away?"