Blagojevich to make appointment to Obama Senate seat

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich plans to appoint former state Attorney General Roland Burris to the Senate seat of President-elect Obama, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The announcement could provoke a fight with Senate  Democratic leaders, who have warned they would seat no one to the Senate appointed by Blagojevich.

An official announcement is expected at 3 p.m. EST on Tuesday. Burris, 71 and African-American, is a former state comptroller and attorney general of Illinois. He also was Blagojevich’s Democratic primary opponent in the 2002 governor’s race.

Burris was not on the list of preferred candidates that Rahm Emanuel,
Obama’s White House chief of staff, sent over to Blagojevich’s staff. However, Obama endorsed Burris in his primary battle with Blagojevich.

In response to a request for comment, Obama’s transition team said it had no comment “right now.”

Democratic Senate leaders said that they would not seat an
appointment by Blagojevich because of the corruption charges
surrounding the Senate seat. They have cited Article 1, section 5 of the Constitution, which states that each House “shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members.”

Blagojevich faces allegations that he has attempted to sell Obama’s Senate seat for his personal benefit, according to a complaint filed by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. According to wiretapped conversations in the complaint, Blagojevich attempted to secure a Cabinet appointment, a high-profile union position or campaign contributions in exchange for the Senate seat.

Blagojevich’s lawyer said the governor would not appoint a replacement to Obama’s Senate seat just more than a week ago.