Burris 'Plays By the Rules'
Senate sergeant of arms, activists defend Burris
Updated 2:53 PM CST, Sat, Jan 3, 2009
Don't worry. There won't be a showdown on the Senate floor next week.
The U.S. Senate's sergeant at arms says he doesn't expect trouble when Roland Burris shows up to be sworn in as President-elect Barack Obama's successor on Tuesday.
The sergeant at arms, Terrence Gainer, says he's known Burris for years. Gainer said in a telephone interview: "He is a good man. He plays by the rules."
Burris is a former Illinois attorney general, while Gainer once served as director of the Illinois State Police.
Burris was chosen for the seat by embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who's been accused by federal prosecutors of trying to make a deal to benefit from the Senate vacancy.
Gainer said Friday that he doesn't believe Burris wants a confrontation. Senate Democratic leaders have said they won't allow him to take a seat.
Meanwhile, activists in Chicago are pushing for lawmakers to accept the governor's appointment of Burris to the U.S. Senate.
At a news conference Friday, about a dozen black activists said -- despite the legal cloud over Blagojevich -- the governor has the legal right to appoint Burris, who they say is highly qualified.
William Walls of the Committee for a Better Chicago warns that, if Secretary of State Jesse White doesn't certify the appointment and Sen. Dick Durbin doesn't support Burris, activists will work to defeat them in upcoming elections.
Blagojevich has denied any wrongdoing and said the people of Illinois are entitled to be represented in the senate.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Chicago
First Published: Jan 2, 2009 2:39 PM CST
You Might Like
You have 2000 characters left
