Burris Arrives at Senate, Not Allowed to Take Oath

Roland Burris strode briskly past the cameras through the rain into the Capitol today, demanding to be seated as Illinois’ Senator but was denied entry, CNN reports. The secretary of the Senate rejected his credentials, preventing him from taking the floor or the oath of office. It was "improperly done," Burris' attorney told the crowd of reporters, "and it is against the law of this land."

“There's nothing wrong with Roland Burris and there's nothing wrong with the appointment,” Burris said earlier in an interview. “I'm presenting myself as the legally appointed senator from the state of Illinois.” Nor was Burris’ the only drama today. Reid also agreed not to seat Al Franken, after Republicans threatened to physically block Franken’s swearing in, in protest of his thin victory in Minnesota, Reuters reports. (More Roland Burris stories.)