Patrick Leahy

Patrick Leahy
Official portrait, 2021
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
In office January 20, 2021 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Chuck Grassley
Succeeded by	Patty Murray
In office December 17, 2012 – January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Daniel Inouye
Succeeded by	Orrin Hatch
President pro tempore emeritus of the United States Senate
In office January 3, 2015 – January 20, 2021
Preceded by	Ted Stevens
Succeeded by	Chuck Grassley
United States Senator from Vermont
In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	George Aiken
Succeeded by	Peter Welch
Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee
In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Richard Shelby
Succeeded by	Patty Murray
Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee
In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Arlen Specter
Succeeded by	Chuck Grassley
In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Orrin Hatch
Succeeded by	Orrin Hatch
In office January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2001
Preceded by	Orrin Hatch
Succeeded by	Orrin Hatch
Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee
In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Jesse Helms
Succeeded by	Richard Lugar
State's Attorney of Chittenden County, Vermont
In office May 10, 1966 – January 2, 1975
Preceded by	John Fitzpatrick
Succeeded by	Francis Murray
Personal details
Born	Patrick Joseph Leahy (1940-03-31) March 31, 1940 (age 84) Montpelier, Vermont, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Marcelle Pomerleau ​ (m. 1962)​
Children	3
Education	Saint Michael's College (BA) Georgetown University (JD)
Signature
Website	Senate website

Patrick Joseph "Pat" Leahy, OBE (born March 31, 1940) is an American politician and part-time actor. He became a United States Senator from Vermont in 1975. He retired in 2023.

Leahy has appeared in three Batman movies Batman & Robin, The Dark Knight,^[1] and in The Dark Knight Rises. He was also the voice of a Senator in Batman: The Animated Series. He supports gay marriage and LGBT rights.^[2]

On December 17, 2012 after the death of Daniel Inouye, Leahy became the new President pro tempore of the United States Senate.^[3] After Inouye's death, Leahy is now the most senior Democrat in the United States.^[4] Leahy is currently the longest serving senator in the United States. He took office at a younger age than any other current senator. On January 3, 2015, Orrin Hatch succeeded Leahy as President pro tempore of the United States Senate. He was honored with the title President pro tempore emeritus soon afterwards. In 2021 after Democrats gained control of the U.S. Senate, Leahy became President pro tempore of the United States Senate again.

On January 25, 2021, it was announced that Leahy would be the presiding officer of Donald Trump's second impeachment trial.^[5][6] In November 2021, he announced that he would not run for re-election and his retirement from the Senate, officially on January 3, 2023.

1. ↑ Holy Cameo, Batman! It’s a Senator! NY Times. July 12, 2008
2. ↑ "Patrick Leahy on the Issues". Ontheissues.org. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
3. ↑ Raju, Manu. "Leahy will become president pro tempore of Senate". POLITICO.
4. ↑ "Leahy now President Pro Tempore of Senate - miamiherald.com". Miami Herald.
5. ↑ Alexander Bolton; Jordain Carney (January 25, 2021). "Leahy, not Roberts, to preside over impeachment trial". The Hill. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
6. ↑ Susan Davis (January 25, 2020). "Sen. Patrick Leahy To Preside Over Trump's Senate Impeachment Trial". NPR.