Burris Will Be Seated

Shalaigh Murray reports the Senate will swear in Roland W. Burris as the junior senator from Illinois later this week, ending a legal showdown that had become an embarrassment for Democratic leaders and for President-elect Barack Obama.

"The Secretary of the Senate has determined that the new credentials presented today on behalf of Mr. Burris now satisfy Senate rules and validate his appointment to the vacant Illinois Senate seat," read a joint statement from Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) and Democratic Whip Richard J. Durbin (Ill.).

"We have spoken to Mr. Burris to let him know that he is now the Senator-designate from Illinois and as such, will be accorded all the rights and privileges of a Senator-elect," the statement continued. "We are working with him and the office of the Vice President to determine the date and time of the swearing-in."

Reid and Durbin concluded, "We are pleased that everything is now in order, we congratulate Senator-designee Burris on his appointment and we look forward to working with him in the 111th Congress."

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