Sen. Roland Burris, who was appointed by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat, might have been less than forthcoming when answering questions about conversations he had with representatives of the now-dethroned governor, but he didn’t lie, the Illinois state prosecutor has ruled. Read more.

A congressional ethics panel is looking into possible violations by Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. during his attempt to acquire Barack Obama’s then-vacant seat in the U.S. Senate. Jackson and others had courted Gov. Rod Blagojevich, hoping to be granted the slot. Blagojevich has since been booted from the governor’s chair after being charged with trying to sell the Senate seat to the highest bidder. Late last month, the Office of Congressional  Ethics voted to investigate Jackson, who is being required to relinquish a number of documents, e-mails and other correspondence from Blagojevich’s gubernatorial and campaign staff regarding Jackson, Jackson’s brother Jonathan and his campaign staff, the Sun-Times reported. Jackson, who has not been charged with any wrongdoing, is the son of civil rights icon the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. In its criminal complaint against Blagojevich, the government listed a mysterious “Senate Candidate A” as one of several candidates that authorities say the former governor considered for the seat now held by Roland Burris. Jackson’s supporters were willing to raise $1.5 million for Blagojevich if he picked the congressman, the complaint said.

Dethroned Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was indicted Thursday on charges that he not only plotted to sell President Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder but that he has a long political history of using his stature as a lawmaker for personal gain. In their 19-count indictment, federal prosecutors allege that Blagojevich was angling for a lucrative gig, a post in Obama’s Cabinet or kickbacks from businesses in exchange for the seat. “I’m saddened and hurt but I am not surprised by the indictment,” Blagojevich, who was in Walt Disney World with his family, said in a statement. “I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name.” Blagojevich told an aide in 2006 that he wanted to stall a $2 million state grant to a school supported by a congressman until the lawmaker’s brother held a political fundraiser for the governor, The Associated Press reported, citing the indictment. That congressman was Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s chief of staff, attorneys familiar with the case told AP Thursday. The indictment also charges Blagojevich with: scheming to get a large kickback in exchange for the refinancing of billions of dollars in state pension funds; telling an assistant that he didn’t want executives with two financial institutions getting further state business after he concluded they were not helping his wife get a high-paying job; withholding state funds sought by the Tribune Co. unless the company fired unfriendly editorial writers at the Chicago Tribune, AP reported.

After weeks of drama, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s controversial choice to replace Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate will be sworn in today. Former state Attorney General Roland Burris’s appointment ensures that the number of African Americans in Congress’ highest chamber – as flimsy as it is at one member – remains at its current level. Read more here.