Patrick Leahy

Patrick Joseph Leahy OBE born March 31 1940 is an American politician and attorney who represented Vermont in the United States Senate from 1975 to 2023 A member of the Democratic Party he also was the president pro tempore of the United States Senate from 2012 to 2015 and from 2021 to 2023 Leahy was the thirdlongestserving US senator in history at 48 years and was the longestserving member of the United States Congress to serve solely as a senator During his tenure he chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Agriculture Committee In March 2022 he became the most senior member of Congress At the time of his retirement Leahy was the dean of Vermonts congressional delegation Vermonts longestserving US senator and the first Democrat ever elected to the US Senate from Vermont Leahy was succeeded by Peter Welch who became the second Democrat to represent Vermont in the Senate Leahys signature legislation is the Leahy Law forbidding the United States from funding foreign military units which violate human rights Leahy was the presiding officer at Donald Trumps second impeachment trial becoming the first senator to preside over a former presidents impeachment trial In 2023 Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport was renamed after him