Burris Staying In Chicago As Lawyers Go To DC

Former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris plans to stay in Chicago Monday while attorneys head to Washington to urge the Senate to accept his appointment to fill the seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

Burris spokesman Jason Erkes says Burris' attorneys will present formal copies of documents received Friday from Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White's office bearing White's signature and the state seal.

Burris had said he'd also be traveling to Washington, but Erkes says he's not sure when that might happen.

Senate Democrats have refused to seat Burris because he lacked official Senate paperwork certified by White.

Sen. Dick Durbin said Sunday that Senate lawyers have been reviewing Friday's state documents to see if they comply with the chamber's rules.

"I started off obviously skeptical, as all of the Democratic members did," Durbin said on "Face the Nation" on CBS. "But as time has gone on and we've looked closely, we want to be fair to Roland Burris. If he has the proper certification and papers, then we're going to take one look at the process and move forward from there."

Senate Democrats have opposed Burris' appointment because of federal charges that Blagojevich tried to sell the seat to the highest bidder. Although they have argued that any Blagojevich appointee is tainted because of the scandal, no one has accused Burris of wrongdoing.

Burris, also appearing on CBS, said his appointment by Blagojevich is legal. On Friday, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that under state law, Burris' appointment paperwork is valid and that it's up to the Senate to decide whether to seat him.

But Durbin, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other Democrats have said that unless the appointment is signed by both the governor and the Illinois secretary of state, it violates Senate rules.

Durbin said Senate lawyers are reviewing a document received Friday night to see whether it complies. Democrats also want to review Burris' testimony before the impeachment panel, where the appointee said he promised Blagojevich nothing in exchange for the seat. Then, Reid said, the Senate would vote on whether to seat him.