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Durbin: Legal Maneuver may Get Burris Into Senate
Produced by Rob Wildeboer on Saturday, January 10, 2009

Sen. Durbin at a press conference Friday. (WBEZ/Gabriel Spitzer)

Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin says a subtle maneuver late yesterday by Roland Burris and his attorneys may be enough to get the former Illinois Attorney General seated in the U.S. Senate.

When the U.S. Senate prevented Burris from entering, they cited the fact that Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White hadn't signed the appointment papers. He still hasn't and says he won't.

And yesterday, the Illinois Supreme Court decided White doesn't need to because Governor Rod Blagojevich's appointment of Roland Burris to the Senate is valid. In light of that ruling, attorneys for Burris went to the secretary of state's office and obtained a copy of Blagojevich's original appointment. They also got a second piece of paper from White, a certificate saying simply that the copy is a true and accurate copy.

That certificate is signed by White. Burris' attorneys are touting that signature even though it's not on the right piece of paper. Senator Durbin is the assistant majority leader in the Senate. He says the move by Burris may be enough to satisfy the Senate, though he stresses Senate lawyers will have to review it.

jeffery mcnary, south loop, chicago // Saturday, January 10, 2009 @ 5:01 PM

oh tra-la for mr. durbin. good thing he just regained a six year term. he didn't to anything in the last. how bland and tawdry can one be.

Ed, Boston // Sunday, January 11, 2009 @ 6:12 PM

There is nothing at all "subtle" about this. The Illinois Supreme Court stated explicitly that there was no need for the Secretary of State to sign the register of appointment but that Burris could apply for a COPY of the register, same as for a birth certificate, and THAT would necessarily have the Secretary of State's signature. What an embarrassment Harry Reid is.