High drama in Illinois

2009-01-01 14:38

Chicago - Criticism rained down on embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on Wednesday for his defiance in appointing the state's new US senator, but doubts persisted that anyone could block the move.

"It's off the rails. What else could be crazier?" said Richard Epstein, a constitutional law professor at the University of Chicago.

Blagojevich, who was arrested on December 9, ignored warnings from within his own party on Tuesday by appointing a successor to fill President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat - the seat the governor has been charged by federal prosecutors with trying to sell to the highest bidder.

"State of Disbelief" read the headline in the Chicago Sun-Times over a full-page photograph of the governor with his choice for the Senate, Roland Burris, 71, the former Illinois attorney general, fellow Democrat and frequent candidate.

"Blagojevich has demonstrated he's totally unpredictable," said Mike Lawrence, who recently retired from the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University.

Obama has called for Blagojevich to resign and backed US Senate leaders who vowed to block Burris from assuming office.

The governor sent a formal proclamation on the appointment to the US Senate on Wednesday.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White refused to sign the document, which analysts said might stall the move.

Late on Wednesday Burris filed a request with the Illinois Supreme Court asking it to compel White to sign and affix the state seal to the proclamation, the court said in a statement without indicating when it might respond to the filing.

Blagojevich, who has denied the corruption charges, is facing impeachment in the Illinois legislature in the state capital of Springfield where hearings resume next week.

Blagojevich, a Democrat in his second term, has yet to be formally indicted.

Prosecutors who admitted having rushed into charging him, on Wednesday asked the court for a 90-day extension to formally indict Blagojevich, who has been under investigation since his first term in 2003.

'Perfectly legal'

Prosecutors said in a court filing they needed the extension to review a large volume of tape-recorded conversations and because witnesses were still coming forward.

Burris said the charges against Blagojevich had "nothing to do" with him and the appointment was perfectly legal.

"Burris has a good record in public office, but he is someone who enjoys the limelight and loves being a player," Lawrence said. "I think he's being used in this situation."

If Burris does show up at the US Senate on January 6 when newly elected members will be sworn in, lawmakers might refuse to administer the oath and refer the matter to a Senate committee to conduct an investigation, a Democratic aide said.

The saga could still take numerous twists, many of which could end in court if Burris or Blagojevich, both lawyers, decide to sue.

Besides the political implications, the appointment carried racial overtones.

Burris is black and seeks to replace the only black in the 100-member Senate.

- Reuters