Changes

'''Roland Burris''' (b. 1937), a liberal Democrat, is the junior U.S. Senator from Illinois.  In 1978 he became the first African American elected to statewide office in Illinois, and in 1990 was elected state attorney general. Since then he lost a series of primary elections and was considered a minor player in Illinois.  

'''Roland Burris''' (b. 1937), a liberal Democrat, is the junior U.S. Senator from Illinois.  In 1978 he became the first African American elected to statewide office in Illinois, and in 1990 was elected state attorney general. Since then he lost a series of primary elections and was considered a minor player in Illinois.  

He was named by Illinois Governor [[Rod Blagojevich]] to fill the vacant [[U.S. Senate]] seat of President-elect Obama, causeing enormous uproar because  Blagojevich was being impeached for trying to sell that same seat. Blagojevich was convicted and removed from office in January 2009.

He was named by Illinois Governor [[Rod Blagojevich]] to fill the vacant [[U.S. Senate]] seat of President-elect Obama, causing enormous uproar because  Blagojevich was being impeached for trying to sell that same seat. Blagojevich was convicted and removed from office in January 2009.

Senate Democrats promised not to seat anyone named by Blagojevich, because of the taint associated with him. Therefore on Jan. 6, 2009, Burris was denied entry to the Senate chambers Tuesday as he tried to claim the seat.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/06/burris/index.html</ref>  

Senate Democrats promised not to seat anyone named by Blagojevich, because of the taint associated with him. Therefore on Jan. 6, 2009, Burris was denied entry to the Senate chambers as he tried to claim the seat.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/06/burris/index.html</ref>  

Legally, however, his claim to the seat seemed good, because it depended on Blagojevich being governor, which he was.

Legally, however, his claim to the seat seemed good, because it depended on Blagojevich being governor, which he was.

:"wasn’t forthcoming, and that’s the bottom line. I feel betrayed. The real problem here is the question of trust for the citizens of Illinois. We were supposed to rise to the occasion and, again, Illinois becomes the laughingstock for the nation."<ref>John Chase and Rick Pearson, "Burris changes story on Senate seat," [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/chi-roland-burris-rod-blagojevich-090214,0,334648.story ''Chicago Tribune'' Feb. 14, 2009]; Natasha Korecki and Dave McKinney, "Illinois lawmakers mull Burris perjury probe," [http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/02/illinois_lawmakers_mull_burris.html ''Chicago Sun-Times'' Feb. 14, 2009]; Dirk Johnson and Monica Davey, "Burris Tried to Raise Money for Blagojevich' [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/us/politics/18illinois.html?hp ''New York Times''  Feb. 17, 2009] </ref>

:"wasn’t forthcoming, and that’s the bottom line. I feel betrayed. The real problem here is the question of trust for the citizens of Illinois. We were supposed to rise to the occasion and, again, Illinois becomes the laughingstock for the nation."<ref>John Chase and Rick Pearson, "Burris changes story on Senate seat," [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/chi-roland-burris-rod-blagojevich-090214,0,334648.story ''Chicago Tribune'' Feb. 14, 2009]; Natasha Korecki and Dave McKinney, "Illinois lawmakers mull Burris perjury probe," [http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/02/illinois_lawmakers_mull_burris.html ''Chicago Sun-Times'' Feb. 14, 2009]; Dirk Johnson and Monica Davey, "Burris Tried to Raise Money for Blagojevich' [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/us/politics/18illinois.html?hp ''New York Times''  Feb. 17, 2009] </ref>

Burris is now shunned and ostracized by his fellow senators, and has been "relegated to outcast status on Capitol Hill." <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/01/burris-relegated-outcast-status-capitol-hill/?test=latestnews Burris Relegated to Outcast Status on Capitol Hill], AP, ''FoxNews.com'', June 01, 2009</ref>

The Senate investigation continues in June 2009; Burris is now shunned and ostracized by his fellow senators, and has been "relegated to outcast status on Capitol Hill." <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/01/burris-relegated-outcast-status-capitol-hill/?test=latestnews Burris Relegated to Outcast Status on Capitol Hill], AP, ''FoxNews.com'', June 01, 2009</ref>

== References ==

== References ==