US Senate approval of Roland Burris's appointment to fill President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat remained in doubt despite an Illinois Supreme Court ruling the selection was valid.
Senate leaders were looking at new documentation from embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who appointed Mr Burris, that was meant to satisfy the Senate requirement that new members have a certificate signed by the governor and secretary of state.
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has refused to sign the original appointment document presented to the Senate by Mr Blagojevich because of corruption charges against the Democratic governor, including accusations he tried to sell Mr Obama's vacated seat to the highest bidder.
Mr Blagojevich was impeached by the Illinois state House yesterday and faces a state Senate impeachment trial that could remove him from office.
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Mr White did not have to sign the appointment document and that the appointment of Mr Burris, a former Democratic state attorney general, was valid with only the governor's signature.
Mr White signed a separate statement yesterday certifying that Mr Burris's appointment letter was legally filed with the state.
But aides to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said it was not clear if Mr White's statement would meet the Senate's 125-year-old certification requirement.
But Mr Burris said the court's ruling should satisfy the Senate, and again urged the chamber to seat him. The Illinois attorney general said it was time for Burris to join the Senate.
Reuters