Scott Brown Is Sworn In, Takes Over Kennedy's Senate Office

Scott Brown Sworn In As New Senator From Massachusetts


Republican Scott Brown was sworn in Thursday as the new U.S. senator from Massachusetts to fill the seat formerly held by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.

His Senate colleagues applauded after the ceremony on the floor of the Senate chamber conducted by Vice President Joe Biden, in his capacity as president of the Senate. Democratic Sen. John Kerry, also of Massachusetts, accompanied Brown into the chamber.

"It's time to do my job," Brown told reporters earlier in the day when he arrived on Capitol Hill.

Brown indicated his top priorities will be job growth and deficit reduction. He said that while he has "great respect" for Kennedy, a liberal Democrat, it's "a new era."

Brown's win in a January 19 special election stripped Democrats of their 60-seat Senate supermajority and raised fears among many congressional Democrats of a potential GOP landslide in November's midterm elections.

Thursday's ceremony occurred a week earlier than originally planned.

Massachusetts officials had said it would take a few weeks after the election to certify the result of Brown's victory. In a letter to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Secretary of State William Galvin on Wednesday, Brown's attorney said the senator-elect had planned on being sworn in on February 11, but had been told that several Senate votes would be held before then.

"For this reason, he wants certification to occur immediately," attorney Daniel Winslow wrote.

The certification occurred Thursday, allowing Brown to officially fill his seat later in the day.

Brown will be taking over Kennedy's coveted office space in the Senate Russell building. Sen. Paul Kirk, who has held the seat since his appointment after Kennedy's death, currently occupies the office and will move out.

Several Senate sources tell CNN that the Senate Rules Committee, which assigns office space, decided to give Brown the office space as a matter of convenience.

Because of his seniority, Kennedy had one of the most coveted office suites in the Senate complex. It is located in the Russell building, down the hall from the Rotunda, and has balconies that overlook the Capitol.


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Sources: CNN, Google Maps