Roland W. Burris answers questions Tuesday after Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich appointed him to fill Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat. (Photo by Worsom Robinson/Real Times News Service.)

Embattled Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced Tuesday that he would appoint Roland W. Burris, an African-American politician who himself has broken many barriers, to fill President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant seat in the United States Senate.

In 1973, Burris began his career in public service as director of the Illinois Department of General Services. Five years later, when he won election as state comptroller, he became the first African American elected to a statewide office. In 1990, he was elected Illinois attorney general, where he served until 1995.

“As governor, I am required to make this appointment. If I don’t make this appointment, then the people of Illinois will be deprived of their appropriate voice and vote in the United States Senate,”  Blagojevich said in making the announcement.

Blagojevich, who steadfastly denies any wrongdoing, is facing political corruption charges and allegations that he improperly sought to profit from the U.S. Senate appointment. Impeachment proceedings have begun in the Illinois House, and a diverse, bipartisan chorus of elected officials have called for his resignation.

It remains to be seen whether the U.S. Senate will seat Burris when he reports for work in January. Senate Democrats this week released a statement saying that while they respect his long career in public service, Burris will not be seated because Blagojevich’s actions have tainted the process. Some legal scholars, however, have questioned whether the Senate has the authority to bar him.