No Hard Feelings as Burris Returns to Senate

Sen. Roland Burris’s first moments on the Senate floor Tuesday morning suggested there are no hard feelings between him and Democratic leaders.

Burris smiled and shook hands with Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) before engaging in a pointed but inaudible conversation with Reid, followed by another smile and handshake between the two men. Reid had announced on Monday he still supported Burris, who has been rocked by recent revelations that he failed to disclose all aspects of his appointment by former Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Reid also brokered a public handshake between Burris and Darrel Thompson, a senior Reid advisor who resigned as Burris’s interim chief of staff last week after being on loan from Reid to Burris for two and a half weeks.

Burris also had a lengthy conversation with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), which was also inaudible to reporters.

— J. Taylor Rushing