Sen. Patrick Leahy was sworn in Tuesday as president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Bernie Sanders stood at Leahy’s side as Vice President Biden administered the oath of office.  Leahy was elected to the post Monday night after the death of Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii. “It’s kind of a bittersweet moment,” Biden whispered to Leahy after the swearing in. First elected to the Senate in 1974, Leahy is now the most senior member or the Senate and third in line to the presidency, behind the vice president and the speaker of the House. Leahy has served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  He is expected to replace Inouye as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

Commenting on the passing of Sen. Inouye, Sanders called him a “giant among senators who treated everyone with respect and dignity. He was a World War II veteran who earned the nation’s highest honor, the Medal of Honor, and continued to serve his country throughout a long and distinguished career. He was one of the best.”