Justice Roberts was gifted a golden gavel for enduring the impeachment trial
Chief Justice John Roberts was in the unenviable position of having to sit through the entirety of the Senate impeachment trial over the last few weeks while also continuing to serve on the Supreme Court, but at least he got a present out of it.
At the conclusion of the trial, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) presented Roberts with a golden gavel, which is typically awarded to new senators after they've sat in their chair for more than 100 hours. But McConnell thought it was ok to break with tradition in this instance.
The Senate awards Chief Justice Roberts the golden gavel to commemorate his time presiding in the Senate. pic.twitter.com/sVY4tZRjjH
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 5, 2020
Roberts also took time to thank McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for helping him preside over the trial, which he admitted was not the easiest task since he wasn't exactly sure what his precise responsibilities were. He was also spending time in the unfamiliar Capitol rather than his normal digs in the Supreme Court Building, which apparently was a bit jarring.
WATCH: Chief Justice John Roberts thanks Sens. McConnell and Schumer "for their support as I attempted to carry out ill-defined responsibilities in an unfamiliar setting."
He tells the full Senate: "I look forward to seeing you again under happier circumstances." #ImpeachmentPBS pic.twitter.com/4Zg9QVobYk
— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) February 5, 2020
Now that the trial is done and President Trump acquitted, Roberts, like the senators he spent so much time hanging out with, will return to his normal routine.
More stories from theweek.com
The real State of the Union
Iowa caucuses: Buttigieg, Sanders nearly tied in state delegates
How history will view Trump's impeachment