Washington, D.C. ? Sen. Roland Burris refused to resign on Tuesday, rebuffing a call from the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat who made it clear the embattled Illinois lawmaker has little hope next year of winning the seat vacated by President Barack Obama.

“I told him that under the circumstances, I would resign,” fellow Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin told reporters after an hourlong meeting with Burris. “He said, ‘I’m not going to resign.'”

“I can’t force him,” Durbin said.

Burris, also a Democrat, was appointed by disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was impeached and driven from office after he was charged in a federal criminal complaint of trying to sell the Senate seat.

Burris repeatedly changed his story about how he was appointed. He is facing calls for his resignation after he admitted trying to raise money for Blagojevich. Burris has said he did nothing wrong.