In light of an FBI investigation and charges that Blagojevich attempted to sell Obama’s vacant senate seat, the move has been deemed heavily controversial.
Blagojevich made the announcement during a 2 p.m. meeting at his office in downtown Chicago on Dec. 30. Burris is an African American and would replace Obama as the only African American in the U.S. Senate.
After giving a brief holiday greeting, Blagojevich explained his actions. “The people of Illinois are entitled to have two United States senators represent them in Washington, D.C. As governor, I am required to make this appointment.”
“If I don’t make this appointment, then the people of Illinois will be deprived of their appropriate voice and vote in the United States senate,” said Blagojevich.
Before handing the mike over to Burris, Blagojevich requested that the allegations against him be overlooked in the choice. “I'd like to ask everyone to do one last thing. Please don’t allow the allegations against me to taint this good and honest man,” he said.
Given that Blagojevich had allegedly tried to sell the senate seat, he had been advised to not appoint anyone. A previously suggested solution was to hold a special election to fill the seat.
On Tuesday, Democratic leaders in the senate issued a statement that anyone Blagojevich appointed would not be seated.
At the meeting, Burris announced his acceptance of the senate seat before turning the meeting over to questions. “I welcome the challenges that await us in the 111th congress.”
“I accept this appointment to fill the unexpired term of President-elect Barack Obama,” Burris said.
Following the statement, Blagojevich and Burris were peppered with questions of whether the decision was appropriate due to the charges hanging over the governor as well as whether there was special interest involved in the decision.
“This is an appointment done by the governor of the state and based on that I have no relationship with that situation,” said Burris in response. “I am accepting an appointment by the governor to go to the United States senate. That’s it.”
When asked about the situation of the governor, Burris refused to comment. Adding, “As the former attorney general of this state, I know and I think you all know that in this legal process, you are innocent until proven guilty.”
The press called out questions to Blagojevich, who after a moment of pressure, stepped back to the microphone.
“This is about Roland Burris as the United States senator, not about governor who makes the appointment,” Blagojevich said.
As the wave of questions continued, Illinois Representative Bobby Rush stepped up to the microphone to defend the decision.
“Roland Burris is worthy. He has not, in 20 years of public service, had one iota of taint on his record as a public servant,” Mr. Rush said. “He is an esteemed member of this state and of this community.”
Standing by his stance, Mr. Rush addressed the issue that with Obama to soon become president, there are now no African-Americans in the U.S. senate. “That makes a difference,” he said. “By this decision, it has tremendous national importance.”
“I will ask you to not hang or lynch the appointee as you try to castigate the appointer. Separate, if you will, the appointee from the appointer. Roland Burris is worthy,” said Mr. Rush.
President-elect Obama said Tuesday he agreed that Senate Democrats “cannot accept” any move by Blagojevich to name a replacement his Senate seat, according to Reuters report.
“Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago that they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat,” Obama said in a statement, adding that he agreed with this position, according to the report.
“I believe the best resolution would be for the Governor to resign his office and allow a lawful and appropriate process of succession to take place.”
