Roland Burris to Be Sworn In as Senator on Thursday

Susan Davis reports on Congress. Once embattled and now embraced, Illinois Senate nominee Roland Burris will be sworn in to the chamber on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. EST by Vice President Dick Cheney , acting in his role as president of the Senate. Following the swearing-in, Burris’s senior colleague, Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin will host a private reception for Burris. Durbin and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid initially fought Burris’s nomination by scandal-tainted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich , but relented after a state supreme court decision and Senate lawyers agreed with Burris’s claim to be a rightful nominee, despite Blagojevich’s legal problems. Burris will take President-elect Barack Obama ’s Senate seat for the remaining two years of his term. Burris has indicated that he could run for re-election in 2010. (link)