Al Franken was sworn in as the junior senator from Minnesota Tuesday, formally ending a protracted legal drama and giving Democrats their first filibuster-proof majority in decades.

Franken used Paul Wellstone's bible to take the oath, which was administered by Vice President Joe Biden. In opening remarks, Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota's senior senator, compared Franken to Wellstone, a Minnesota senator who died in a plane crash in 2002.

Last week, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Franken won the November 4 election over challenger Norm Coleman, who conceded.

A crowd in the galleries above the Senate floor gave the former Saturday Night Live comedian a standing ovation when he finished the oath. After getting hugs and thumps on the back from grinning senators, Franken raised his fist triumphantly at the audience, who responded with loud cheers.

Franken will participate in confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor next week as a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Posted by Carrie Wells