National News

Illinois governor could announce Obama's Senate replacement

The Chicago Tribune reports that Gov. Rod Blagojevich, facing several corruption charges, will name former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris, 71, to take over the seat.

Posted Updated

CHICAGO — Embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich could announce Tuesday whom he has chosen to fill President-elect Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat.

Blagojevich has scheduled a 3 p.m. EST news conference, but spokesman Lucio Guerrero declined to say what the governor plans to discuss.

The Chicago Tribune, however, reports that the governor, facing several corruption charges, will name former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to take over the seat.

Burris, 71, served as the state's head attorney from 1991 to 1995, and currently works as a political consultant for Chicago-based Burris & Lebed Consulting.

The FBI arrest Blagojevich on Dec. 9 on a variety of corruption charges, including scheming to benefit from naming Obama's replacement in the U.S. Senate.

Lawmakers in Springfield are considering whether to proceed with plans to impeach him.

The Democratic governor denies any wrongdoing and has vowed to fight both impeachment and the criminal charges.

Blagojevich's pending announcement comes despite warnings by Democratic Senate leaders that they would not seat anyone he appoints, the Tribune reported.

Copyright 2024 by WRAL.com and the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.