Burris sworn in as senator
January 15, 2009
WASHINGTON---- Roland Burris is now officially a U.S. senator.
Media members follow Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.), right, on Capitol Hill in Washington after he was officially sworn in on the Senate floor Thursday.
(AP)
(AP)
The Illinois Democrat was sworn-in by Vice President Dick Cheney Thursday at a Capitol Hill ceremony. His new colleagues in the Senate chamber responded with applause.
He takes his Senate seat alongside fellow Democrats who initially turned him away, and who had vowed not to seat anyone appointed by embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
The governor, who's been impeached by state lawmakers, is accused of trying to sell the Senate seat that had been held by President-elect Barack Obama.
Burris is now being given a polite welcome by Democrats, who say they never had anything against him personally.
Burris becomes the only black member of the Senate.