Two former vice presidents joined Vice President Pence on Capitol Hill Wednesday, as the three participated in the swearing-in of Sens. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.).
A picture tweeted out by Pence press secretary Alyssa Farah shows the vice president speaking with his predecessor, Vice President Joe Biden, and Carter-era Vice President Walter Mondale before the ceremony.
Personal connections brought the two former vice presidents to the ceremony. Biden, who escorted Jones, campaigned for the Democrat in Alabama, while Mondale once mentored Smith before she became Minnesota lieutenant governor.
Biden and Pence reportedly have a congenial relationship. Biden said he was leaving his office in “good hands” with Pence shortly after last November’s election.
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Jones won a hard-fought Senate special election in December over Roy Moore (R), who battled accusations he pursued sexual relationships with teenage girls when he was in his 30s.
Biden vocally supported Jones during his campaign, and tweeted his praise for the former prosecutor after his victory. Jones would typically be escorted by Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), the state’s other senator, but Shelby was not asked.
“Doug Jones. Thank you, Alabama. You’ve elected a man of incredible integrity, grit, and character,” Biden said.
“A fighter for working class and middle class Alabamians. He is going to make you proud in the Senate,” Biden tweeted last month.
Smith was appointed to her seat by Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D) after the resignation of Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) over sexual misconduct accusations.