Pence stood at the top of the steps looking at the crowd when Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Jim Morehand told the vice president he could exit through a different way if he preferred.
“Let’s do it,” he said.
Pence and his security detail then strode down the steps. Pence waved repeatedly to the protesters.
In a statement, Pence said after the confirmation of Kavanaugh, “Today is a historic day for our country as a majority in the U.S. Senate voted to send a new voice to the Supreme Court who will uphold the timeless vision of America’s founders.”
The vice president is able to cast a deciding vote in the case of a tie-breaker. Kavanaugh’s confirmation ended up with a vote of 50-48. Every Republican voted for Kavanaugh except for Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who voted “no” before quickly withdrawing her vote and saying “present” as a way of pairing her vote with Kavanaugh supporter Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), who was in Montana for his daughter’s wedding and thus unable to vote “yes.”
Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) was the only Democrat to vote for Kavanaugh.
Kavanaugh was sworn in as a justice on Saturday night, by Justice Anthony Kennedy, whose retirement opened up the vacancy filled by Kavanaugh.
A public ceremony welcoming Kavanaugh to the court will take place on Oct. 8, according to President Donald Trump.
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