January 10, 2009
Posted: 05:05 PM ET
Biden was sworn in by the man he will be replacing, Vice President Dick Cheney.
Biden was sworn in by the man he will be replacing, Vice President Dick Cheney.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Just days after being sworn in for another term, Vice President-elect Joe Biden has sent the Senate a letter officially announcing his resignation.

"I am resigning my seat in the United States Senate as the senior senator from the state of Delaware to assume my duties as vice president of the United States," wrote Biden.

The resignation will be effective as of Thursday, January 15 at 5:00 pm ET.

Filed under: Vice President-elect Biden


gregg45   January 10th, 2009 10:03 pm ET

oh wow,, a white man , turned, brown.. wow

andrea   January 10th, 2009 10:01 pm ET

He will be such a good VP. I have always liked him.
OBAMA / BIDEN just got to love those TWO

gregg45   January 10th, 2009 9:55 pm ET

can not wait for the the next huricane, or the next terror attack on america,,, or the next snow storm , or tornado,, maybe the new , god prsident ,, can stop them all,,, he has the wisdom and the power

Virginia Republican   January 10th, 2009 9:54 pm ET

And wow–he will get his annual senator's salary AND the annual VP's salary! So who will he share HIS wealth with?????

gregg45   January 10th, 2009 9:50 pm ET

HITLER, was an orator,, his henchmen… were , bidens,,, get real.. amerika,, u choose,,, hope you get your check,, its amazin,, that , the people who do not need the $$ , thinks he is the super prez

Cheryl Tx   January 10th, 2009 9:29 pm ET

@bk January 10th, 2009 3:58 pm ET
Peanut head and the gaff master running the country.*** What a crew
So a man think it so is he***

Tracy   January 10th, 2009 9:18 pm ET

Does no one work here on the weekend…normally takes about 4 hours for your post to be seen.

Erinel Faustin   January 10th, 2009 9:01 pm ET

All best Joe!!!

Elizabeth   January 10th, 2009 8:58 pm ET

We love your smile Joe

Billy   January 10th, 2009 8:47 pm ET

Go figure, he gets elected vice-president and then a couple months later he quits his job. I bet he's going to go on welfare like the rest of them…

Republican for Obama - TX   January 10th, 2009 8:44 pm ET

Great news for the Great USA!!!

Joel Parkes   January 10th, 2009 8:35 pm ET

What a quitter! Vote Palin/Romney 2012! :)

Michael   January 10th, 2009 8:32 pm ET

He probably didn't resign before the term began because he actually wants to vote on some of the legislation. There could also be some legal procedures to give his replacement more time or something along those lines

mike   January 10th, 2009 8:18 pm ET

Imagine if everyone in America was informed about Cheney's war crimes: torture, the vallery paline leak, the constant pushing for war without sufficient intelligence, and his involvement with industries like Vangaurd and Halliburton (big oil.) Oh boy.

SMR   January 10th, 2009 8:17 pm ET

Joe wanted to take one for the team and punch Cheney in the head !!!

That Other Jerry   January 10th, 2009 8:16 pm ET

Was he waiting until the electoral college votes were counted? Hedging his bets? :-)

Judy Zukoski, Barnesville, PA   January 10th, 2009 8:09 pm ET

Joe Biden is a true statesman and we are fortunate to have him as our Vice-President.

Muffet in Georgia   January 10th, 2009 8:00 pm ET

I will be whooping, dancing and doing flips in antipation of Obama and Biden taking the wheel! I know it is a difficult task they have but if I can trust any two people to steer us out of this mess its these two….despite some of the idiots on capital hill.

Jim from Ohio   January 10th, 2009 7:39 pm ET

Hey dmjakers – me thinks no one could have an ego bigger than George W. Bush, the guy who has our great country in one big mess!

La Chatte   January 10th, 2009 7:23 pm ET

Go get 'em, Joe! And keep on shooting off your mouth! It's refreshing!

Pat Omaha, NE   January 10th, 2009 7:15 pm ET

Good luck! You are a true gentleman and a great American! I would say to you what I said to Barack: don't let DC change you! But you've already proven yourself to be honest in the midst of corruption!
Thanks!

Desiree   January 10th, 2009 6:59 pm ET

GOD BLESS YOU MR. VICE-PRESIDENT ELECT. OUR PRAYERS ARE FOR YOU AND PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA. I WAS HOPING SO MUCH THAT MR. OBAMA WOULD SELECT YOU AS HIS VICE-PRESIDENT. MY PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED. "GREAT TEAM"!!!

Larry   January 10th, 2009 6:51 pm ET

Burris could maybe have Bidden's seat ?

Roto   January 10th, 2009 6:34 pm ET

Look at the photo. He is laughing at Cheney… "Hey Dick, you're out and finshed, man".

mike   January 10th, 2009 6:31 pm ET

You mean someone at the Senate was actually working on a Saturday?

No Hillary = No Obama   January 10th, 2009 6:21 pm ET

Joe Biden should be President. Hillary Clinton should be President. People who put in their years of service, earned their spurs, contributed, year after year. Instead we have a weak-kneed, wet-behind-the-ears grandiose person. Obama will be controlled by the likes of Pelosi & Co. which is why she betrayed Hillary. They knew they weren't going to be able to control Hillary, the way they will pretty boy.

flybyshoeing   January 10th, 2009 6:21 pm ET

He had to be sworn in as Senator again because of the trip he just took to Pakistan and Afganistan. It was a Senatoral trip with Lindsey Graham. I think they are still over there. CNN should have mentioned that.

i got a dolla   January 10th, 2009 6:19 pm ET

How much does the seat cost?

Rick Roberts   January 10th, 2009 6:13 pm ET

Joe Biden is the real deal. He will make a great Vice President. He swore in as a Senitor because he won the senate election. Now hopefully the Govonor will not try to sell his senate seat. He has put himself in harms way to go to Afgahanastan to see for himself what is going on. He will bring back information for Obama to digest. What has Cheney done? made a lot of money and shot a friend. He is not a moron but is eveil.Go JOE!!!!!

Has anyone seen Paulson?   January 10th, 2009 6:04 pm ET

Joe is saying under his breath,"I m going to see Cheney in an orange jumpsuit someday".

MartiM, Plano   January 10th, 2009 6:03 pm ET

dmjakers and Anonymous – don't be doofuses – Mr. Biden is still Delaware's senator until the new administration is in place and, as such, still represents his state in that capacity. It has nothing to do with ego, and the term hasn't yet begun.

THE OLD TIMER   January 10th, 2009 5:55 pm ET

FIRE HARRY REID

Home of the Free   January 10th, 2009 5:54 pm ET

I still can't believe all the republican hate, what a bunch of losers. Hey get job Cheney. lololololol

Proud American   January 10th, 2009 5:44 pm ET

We're counting on you and the President Elect. God knows we couldn't count of the sitting president and his side kick cheney. Idiots
Gee so much for freedom of speech and CNN.

Rob   January 10th, 2009 5:42 pm ET

He should have never been allowed to run for two seats.

nyla ferrell   January 10th, 2009 5:32 pm ET

I truly admire Joe Biden always have I think he will be agreat Vice President I cannot wait til January 20!! Good luck Barack and Joe!

Juan Grain   January 10th, 2009 5:21 pm ET

Slap him Joe, slap him silly!

Griff   January 10th, 2009 5:20 pm ET

How much will you pay Bidden to be a Gooden…..
America Needs Alice…. Who the @#%$%# is Alice…. Just another song I have heard in my life…. So "Who the @#%$# is Alice????

susie   January 10th, 2009 5:20 pm ET

Biden wanted to take a trip overseas as a Senator, so that the taxpayers could foot the bill. Then he comes home and resigns as Senator. Only a democrat can spend money foolishly.

Amber   January 10th, 2009 5:18 pm ET

10 more days… 10 more days… 10 more days… 10 more days… 10 more days… 10 more days…

All the Democrats need to do is S T A L L on the $350B and then it's OURS!!!!

Solid Voter   January 10th, 2009 5:08 pm ET

That's the first piece of good news I heard all day… wait, oh no now he is VP. Dang! You just can't win.

Griff   January 10th, 2009 5:02 pm ET

David Frost??? TW3….. The Week that was…. America…
The Question that was…. Answer! Don't dream…. Most of all… Don't try to sell the World on You'r choice….. Prove it!

l Berry   January 10th, 2009 5:01 pm ET

He took office so his seat can safely be awarded by Governor of Delaware. If he had resigned prior, the seat would have been the result of a lawful election and not appointment.
I guess he was unsure of his chances to get VP and also of the ability of another Dem to win election.

Erphan from Los Angeles   January 10th, 2009 4:56 pm ET

Biden probably took another term because it would be documented as if he served X terms as sentor rather than "X-1″ terms even thhiugh he didn't complete this term.

Ademico   January 10th, 2009 4:46 pm ET

Joe Biden is a great American . He deserves to to take the oath of the senate and Vice president if possible. Don King , said " Only in America!" . Let us all support Joe and Barack's governement . Please call your congressional delegates to support the recovery plans before you fall victim to the Republican led recession . They believed in a free for all market with no regulations . The chickens have come to our homes to sleep (lol).

Allan   January 10th, 2009 4:45 pm ET

Thanks for your service, Joe! Best wishes in your new role, America is pulling for you and Obama to repair the damage wrought by the W administration.

gregory james   January 10th, 2009 4:45 pm ET

rep suck !!! TOD HATS ALL NEED TO BE SAID GET IT GOOD BYE!!!

getty104   January 10th, 2009 4:44 pm ET

He has more problems that these two. His huge head/ego will surely be his biggest problem

Simmy   January 10th, 2009 4:40 pm ET

Great!

Jan Illinois   January 10th, 2009 4:36 pm ET

Should have refused to be sworn in by a criminal Joe.

JGR   January 10th, 2009 4:29 pm ET

Isn't he as old as John McCain? It looks like he has had a facelift and/or botox!

Griff   January 10th, 2009 4:28 pm ET

You're comments are not Welcome. Every Weekend….CNN? Could be 24/7/2027? Your falling down in you're Commitment, Or is just Because Black America need to Protect their Mistake…. But the other Two Hundred plus is Ignored….

Don S   January 10th, 2009 4:26 pm ET

Seeing as how he comes from Delaware, that allows segregation of students in public schools, he should resign from all political offices.

empty heads voted for an empty vessel   January 10th, 2009 4:25 pm ET

Too bad the letter was plagarized……………

Oh, he is part of the Obama team, never heard this story either.

Chuck   January 10th, 2009 4:17 pm ET

Wishing you and Barack the best of luck.

Gil   January 10th, 2009 4:17 pm ET

Can't we get bush to write his early resignation? It would be a surprise gift to the American people?

Hillarysags   January 10th, 2009 4:08 pm ET

This is by no means an upgrade. The country will be less safe in 10 days.
Bomb-chiki-wow-wow!!!! let the entertainment began…

Matthew knowitall   January 10th, 2009 4:06 pm ET

Your so right dmjakers biden will recieve his pension from being a former senate and he will also recieve his vp salary $200,000+
obama will also recieve his pension and receive his pres salary $400,000+. GHWBUSH did the same when he left congress. but he no longer receives a pension because he's over 80 years old.

Cal Adkins   January 10th, 2009 4:05 pm ET

I wonder if Biden will just sit there and grin while his country loses our great independence and American free spirit while the USA becomes a liberal/progressive/socialist/marxist state and just another shadow of the European Community? Will he be as outspoken against his perceived wrongs that "W" did as he will the Almighty the Expected One Hussein Obama…

indepent in ohio   January 10th, 2009 4:04 pm ET

for a second i thought he was resigning his future tenure as vice-prez darn!

MaryanneAZ   January 10th, 2009 4:00 pm ET

I welcome the A Team to D.C. Go Obama/Biden! We're behind you 1000% and are ready to do our part.

bk   January 10th, 2009 3:58 pm ET

Peanut head and the gaff master running the country. What a crew!

Joyce Becker   January 10th, 2009 3:54 pm ET

It seems silly for Jill Biden to have to carry that heavy old family bible for just those few days for Joe to be sworn in for just a few days. I really thought she was going to drop it during the mock swearing in. Now she will have to carry it once more for the VP swearing in. Well at least Biden got to go to Afghanistan as a Senator one last time, perhaps will have some good information for the new president.

Mary   January 10th, 2009 3:52 pm ET

Joe Biden deserves respect for the office he has served and worked so hard for. He will work just as hard for the country as he has for the state he represented. God bless this country and the future leaders.

Randall Arnold   January 10th, 2009 3:52 pm ET

dmjakers, you're speculating. Maybe there's nothing insidious about the swearing in. Maybe it's a necessary formality. Why not check into it before spouting off?

Mark C, Atlanta GA   January 10th, 2009 3:51 pm ET

** Maybe it also increases his federal pension **

On the other hand, maybe you're a moron.

MET9   January 10th, 2009 3:51 pm ET

Way to go Joe. I hope that you live up to the great expectations that are going to be made of you. You were a senator for a long time and are as much to blame for the mess that our country is in as all of the long-standing members of congress. Now America is expecting you to be a major player in cleaning it up. We have our eyes on you. Don't let us down.

Lynne Smith   January 10th, 2009 3:49 pm ET

If he officially resigns on the 15th & becomes Veep on the 20th, does that mean he's unemployed for 5 days? Welcome to the ranks, sir!

Alicia   January 10th, 2009 3:46 pm ET

ahhh the repub moderator is back on. I again am asking CNN what is to be left off a blog? Bad language or free thoughts.

@ bimmer….yes he has more education and experience than Dubya. You are so right, he will do much better.

After all, Dubya messed up the Texas baseball team he had. Dubya messed up everything he has touched.

Dubya did not read the memo warning of 9-11. Dubya definitely showed a lack of experience on his non-handling of Katrina.

Dubya had NO experience or brain!

TONY G.   January 10th, 2009 3:46 pm ET

MR. BIDEN: AS THE SECOND IN COMMAND I WISH YOU THE BEST AND NOTHING BUT THE BEST ON YOUR NEW JOB. I THINK THAT YOU WILL BE ONE OF THE BEST TO DRIVE THE U. S. A. TO THE POSSITION THAT AMERICA DESERVES AS A NATION AND AS A LEADER OF THE REST OF THE WORLD. HOPE GOD WILL GIVE TO YOU AND THE 1ST. IN COMMAND MR. OBAMA THE POWER TO GUIDE THIS GREAT NATION TO THE BEST PLACES , BECAUSE WE THE AMERICANS COUNT ON YOU AND MR. OBAMA AS WELL.

TONY G.

mARGE   January 10th, 2009 3:44 pm ET

Are we going to have a free for all for this seat also.

Mike, Cleveland, Ohio   January 10th, 2009 3:37 pm ET

dmjakers

Biden ran for a seventh term this year as Senator while also running for VP. People of Delaware elected him as a Senator and he took office as a Senator since Congress convened on Jan. 6th. I wish people like yourself would critically analyse a situation before spewing hatred (partisan perhaps?).

bk   January 10th, 2009 3:32 pm ET

Biden spends 30 years in the senate, accommplishes nothing, makes bad decisions and the people that voted for him think that is going to change. Once an idiot always and idiot.

BrandonR   January 10th, 2009 3:32 pm ET

dmjakers – he has to take the Oath of Office as Senator. His replacement can't do that because the replacement has to be replacing a sitting senator. If Biden isn't a sitting Senator, he can't be replaced.

Allen: Hartwell, GA   January 10th, 2009 3:29 pm ET

Too often good people get promoted FROM positions where they were very effective TO positions where they are treated like mushrooms. I can't imagine Joe Biden woud be treated like this, or would accept it. He seems like a good person and a good team-mate for Barack Obama.

Sue   January 10th, 2009 3:23 pm ET

Good Luck! It is an unfortunate mess that Obama and Biden are inheriting.

WORD UP!   January 10th, 2009 3:23 pm ET

WHY IS MY COMMENT ALWAYS AWAITING MODERATION?

Willy Brown   January 10th, 2009 3:20 pm ET

Joe accidendtly release his resignation letter as VP today but quickly retracting it and releasing his senate seat letter instead. Joe said he’s resign from the office of VP next year if only to go to for work in a jiffy mart store with people that have a slight Indian accent.

Anonymous   January 10th, 2009 3:20 pm ET

why didn;'t he resign before the term began?

New Jersey Accountant   January 10th, 2009 3:18 pm ET

Not to be picky but shouldn't "vice president" be capitalized….grammar was never my strongest subject so I hope I am wrong.

Kaitlin   January 10th, 2009 3:18 pm ET

I'd just like to point out that on the main page, the link to this story reads "Biden releases letter of resignation", ommiting the "from Senate" part. My heart ommited a beat after reading that.
:)

Larry   January 10th, 2009 3:11 pm ET

Now, if we could get him to resign one more time,we would be getting some place.

Government is the problem not the solution.

dmjakers   January 10th, 2009 3:09 pm ET

He's got an ego the size of an aircraft carrier. Else, why take the oath as a senator knowing he isn't going to serve? Maybe it also increases his federal pension.

Jerry Paul   January 10th, 2009 3:08 pm ET

woooooooo yeahhhhhhhh

MikefromWV   January 10th, 2009 3:08 pm ET

As Americans we should all be very proud to have two such great men to lead our country out of it's present troubles, to once again engage the rest of the world as a trusted friend.

Griff   January 10th, 2009 3:07 pm ET

I just heard an Advert. Me Bidden…. You need to: See Alice….

lovable liberal   January 10th, 2009 3:05 pm ET

Ten more days. Only ten after such a long time in the disastrous term of Duhbya.

Nannie Bouroughs - Milwaukee, WI   January 10th, 2009 3:04 pm ET

When will he resign from his vice-presidential seat?

Russ   January 10th, 2009 3:03 pm ET

Good luck, Joe – you follow in large foot steps, but with humility and a respect for humanity and our Constitution, it won't be hard to be the best VP we've had in a decade.

Griff   January 10th, 2009 3:01 pm ET

I just heard you'r speach Bidden…. Buch had to fight a War,,,, He had to Protect your Country afer 2001….. Shout-Shout-Shout… Can you turn it About? No! You're country has too many Enemy's…. Now you wan't to Elect one of their Allies….. You are in danger America…
All you do is Blame the Other Guy before you…. Your Turn now..
As Gregory Peck said to David Niven. Your in it Now Chum….
Gun's Of Navarone!

DJColbert   January 10th, 2009 2:58 pm ET

Way to go Joe! Looking forward to all the good work you can do along-side President-elect Obama.

Farrell, Houston, Tx   January 10th, 2009 2:53 pm ET

Biden sworn in by Cheney whom I consider to be one of the most wicked conniving VP's in history.

Josh Speed   January 10th, 2009 2:50 pm ET

sorry, my last comment was meant for the obama train story

Josh Speed   January 10th, 2009 2:49 pm ET

I hope he doesn't have to sneak through Baltimore in disguise in the middle of the night like the last President-Elect from Illinois who rode a train to Washington.

William   January 10th, 2009 2:48 pm ET

Dick is the Dark Lord Sith…

BC in NC   January 10th, 2009 2:47 pm ET

Good luck and God speed.

Med Sec   January 10th, 2009 2:43 pm ET

Oh yes, the time is here Joe!

energy   January 10th, 2009 2:36 pm ET

He resigned the wrong job. I was hoping to read that he resigned as VP-Elect. After all, he was voted in through Pay-to-Play voters, such as Blago.

Glock   January 10th, 2009 2:36 pm ET

For a split second when I clicked the link, I had a moment of excitement thinking he was dropping his VP seat. That moment quickly subsided as I remembered he had yet to resign from senate.

Mike Mc   January 10th, 2009 2:36 pm ET

good luck Joe!

AndyB   January 10th, 2009 2:21 pm ET

Now if we could just get Reid to take a hike

observer   January 10th, 2009 2:19 pm ET

To bad it didn't cover the V. P. spot also !

Larry Wagenaar   January 10th, 2009 2:19 pm ET

We are blessed to have such a wonderful team – Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden – taking over leadership. Blessings to both.

bill   January 10th, 2009 2:13 pm ET

god help us all

go-go biden   January 10th, 2009 2:11 pm ET

resign period get out of Washington…………..""

Sezi Demirkilic`   January 10th, 2009 2:11 pm ET

Chenney came out of his bunker to swear in the Senators???

jw   January 10th, 2009 2:06 pm ET

man alive

Meh   January 10th, 2009 2:05 pm ET

Look at that smile! haha I love it!

Wisest one of All   January 10th, 2009 2:01 pm ET

One of the worst senators ever elected leaves!! :)

Now he can move on to the non job that is the VP. He must feel pretty lousy having to play second fiddle to hussein nobama, the most unqualified person to hold any elected office anywhere in the US. Proven Fact!

Proud American   January 10th, 2009 1:59 pm ET

We're counting on you and the President Elect. God knows we couldn't count of the sitting president and his side kick cheney. Idiots

Texas Teacher   January 10th, 2009 1:44 pm ET

And so it begins…………….. :)

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