From the San Francisco Chronicle — Originally published Monday, Jan. 5

There’s no doubt about it. The circumstances under which Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich named former state Attorney General Roland Burris to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama are far from ideal. …

Many Illinoisans understandably had hoped Blagojevich would resign from office … but he didn’t and he denies any wrongdoing. Absent a conviction, Blagojevich is entitled to due process. …

Before the Burris announcement, the Illinois Legislature had the power to convene a special election to fill Obama’s vacant seat. This was Obama’s stated wish. Instead, fearing that a Republican might win, state lawmakers failed to act when the seat was vacant.

Burris has not been implicated in the seat-for-sale scandal. He has a solid reputation …

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has said he won’t certify the Burris appointment. Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid [D-Nev.] has threatened to delay seating Burris when, as expected, Burris shows up on Capitol Hill this week.

That would be wrong. …

While the corruption allegations against Blagojevich are serious and strongly suggest he is unfit to hold public office, there is no evidence to suggest that he did anything illegal or unethical in the selection of Roland Burris.

Burris should be seated in the U.S. Senate.