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Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, has been taken into custody on criminal charges - Source: Reuters -
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US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that legal authority
exists under the Constitution to bar embattled Illinois Governor
Rod Blagojevich's pick to fill President-elect Barack Obama's
vacant Senate seat, but added there is also room to
negotiate.
Under the Constitution, Reid said, "We determine who sits in the
Senate. And the House (of Representatives) determines who sits in
the House. So there's clearly legal authority for us to do whatever
we want to do. This goes back for generations."
Speaking on NBC's Meet the Press, Reid said he plans to meet on
Wednesday with Blagojevich's choice for the Senate, Roland Burris,
71, the former Illinois attorney general, a fellow Democrat.
Asked if there was room for a possible settlement, Reid said, "I'm
an old trial lawyer. There is always room to negotiate."
New members will be sworn in on Tuesday with the opening of the new
Congress.
Reid called Burris a "tainted appointment" because of the
governor's alleged misconduct, although he said he did not know of
anything wrong with Burris himself.
Blagojevich, who was arrested on December 9 and accused of trying
to sell Obama's vacant seat, is facing impeachment in the Illinois
legislature in the state capital of Springfield. Blagojevich has
denied the corruption charges and has refused demands by Obama and
others to resign as governor.
Reid said he planned to meet on Monday to discuss the matter with
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.
"I hope we can can solve this issue on a bipartisan basis," Reid
said.
Asked if Burris will become a US senator, Reid said, "It will be
very difficult for that to occur." But he added, "Anything can
happen."
