Obama's replacement as governor rebuffed

Published on Tuesday 6 January 2009 20:49

THE man appointed to take Barack Obama's vacant senate seat was turned away from Congress yesterday by Democrats angry that he was appointed by a governor facing corruption charges.

Roland Burris was blocked at the chamber door after he was appointed to the post – which Mr Obama leaves to become president – by the Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevic, who has been accused by federal prosecutors of trying to "sell" the seat for bribes.

In a row that threatens to overshadow Mr Obama's inauguration on 20 January, Mr Burris has vowed to take his case to the Supreme Court unless Democrats let him take his seat.

"We will take the necessary actions to the highest court in the land," said Mr Burris's lawyer, Timothy Wright. "The denial of his credentials was unlawful, illegal, and improper."

It was also bizarre: Americans were treated to live coverage of Mr Burris walking up the Senate steps, only to be stopped by officials who said the Democrat majority refused to let him in.

"I presented my credentials to the secretary of the senate," said Mr Burris. "And was advised my credentials were not in order."

The drama was the latest episode in the saga of Mr Blagojevic, who prosecutors say was taped trying to elicit money from candidates wanting to be named senator.

Constitutional lawyers are split over whether the Senate has the right to refuse Mr Burris entry. He is not himself accused of being part of the alleged bribe ring, and Mr Burris said that Mr Blagojevic had yet to be tried or charged, leaving him free to appoint a new senator.