FILE - In this April 13, 2009 file photo Al Franken talks with reporters outside his home in Minneapolis. On Monday, June 1, 2009 the Minnesota Supreme Court will hear arguments over the nation's longest Senate vacancy in 34 years. Norm Coleman, a Republican who had been the incumbent, trails by 312 votes. He wants justices to instruct a trial court to open 4,400 rejected absentee ballots. Franken, potentially a critical 60th Senate vote for Democrats, hopes the court sweeps aside the appeal and demands that he get the election certificate required to take office. AP Photo logo AP Photo 8 months ago

FILE - In this April 13, 2009 file photo Al Franken talks with reporters outside his home in Minneapolis. On Monday, June 1, 2009 the Minnesota Supreme Court will hear arguments over the nation's longest Senate vacancy in 34 years. Norm Coleman, a Republican who had been the incumbent, trails by 312 votes. He wants justices to instruct a trial court to open 4,400 rejected absentee ballots. Franken, potentially a critical 60th Senate vote for Democrats, hopes the court sweeps aside the appeal and demands that he get the election certificate required to take office.

More Photos of

Explore Photos of Related Topics

  1. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010, for President Barack Obama's State of the Union address.
  2. U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D- Mich. the chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee talks during a press conference accompanied by Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010. Levin said that there is a major shortage of instructors needed to train Afghan forces.
  3. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) (R) talks to Ron Klain (L), Chief of Staff for U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, outside of the senate Democrats' weekly policy lunch at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, December 8, 2009. Also pictured is Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) (C).
  4. Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., speaks to the media about the Democratic health care bill on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, in Washington. Sens. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., Al Franken, D-Minn., second left, and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., listen in the back.
  5. Sens. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., left, Al Franken, D-Minn., Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Mark Begich, D-Alaska, Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., are all smiles during a news conference on health care legislation on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009.
  6. U.S. President Barack Obama (C) waves to U.S. Democratic Party members before addressing the Senate Democratic Policy Committee Issues Conference at the Newseum in Washington, February 3, 2010. At right is Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
  7. Alexi Giannoulias speaks with reporters while campaigning for the Democrat party U.S. Senate seat prior to the primary election in Springfield, Ill., Monday, Feb. 1, 2010.
  8. Barney Frank, Congressman from Massachusetts (Democrat), 4th District and Chairman of the Financial Services Committee, USA, left, speaks with Director General of the World Trade Organization Pascal Lamy during a session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Friday Jan. 29, 2010. Climate change moves to the forefront at the World Economic Forum with the question of what steps world governments, big business and activists can take together to find a path that is both effective environmentally but won't break the bank.
  9. Barney Frank, Congressman from Massachusetts (Democrat), 4th District and Chairman of the Financial Services Committee, USA, waits for the start of a session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Friday Jan. 29, 2010. Climate change moves to the forefront at the World Economic Forum with the question of what steps world governments, big business and activists can take together to find a path that is both effective environmentally but won't break the bank.
  10. Barney Frank, Congressman from Massachusetts (Democrat), 4th District and Chairman of the Financial Services Committee, USA, waits for the start of a session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Friday Jan. 29, 2010. Climate change moves to the forefront at the World Economic Forum with the question of what steps world governments, big business and activists can take together to find a path that is both effective environmentally but won't break the bank.
  11. Barney Frank, Congressman from Massachusetts (Democrat), 4th District and Chairman of the Financial Services Committee, USA, waits for the start of a session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Friday Jan. 29, 2010. Climate change moves to the forefront at the World Economic Forum with the question of what steps world governments, big business and activists can take together to find a path that is both effective environmentally but won't break the bank.
  12. Republican members of the Legislature stand up and clap after listening to Gov. Ed Rendell criticize the length of time it took to pass last year's 101-day-late state budget as Rendell delivers his executive budget address for the fiscal year 2010-2011 to a joint session of the Pennsylvania House and Senate in Harrisburg, Pa., Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010.
  13. Republican gubernatorial candidate for governor and former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan, thanks his family and supporters after the voting results had come in late night Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010. Ryan was at his after election party in Lombard, Ill.
  14. Republican gubernatorial candidate and former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan, thanks his family and supporters after the voting results had come in late night Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010. Ryan was at his after election party in Lombard, Ill.
  15. Republican gubernatorial candidate and former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan, thanks his family and supporters after the voting results had come in late night Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010. Ryan was at his after election party in Lombard, Ill.
  16. Republican gubernatorial candidate and former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan, right, talks with the media after the polls had closed on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010. Ryan had just arrived at the Westin Hotel in Lombard, Ill., to attend his party.

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 10: Dominic Thornely of the Blues bowls during the Ford Ranger Cup match between the Victorian Bushrangers and the New South Wales Blues at Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 10, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia.
  2. NEW DELHI, INDIA - FEBRUARY 10: Pablo Larrazabal of Spain during the Pro-AM of the Avantha Masters held at The DLF Golf and Country Club on February 10, 2010 in New Delhi, India.
  3. TOKYO - FEBRUARY 10: Goalkeeper Jung Mi Kim of South Korea catches the ball during the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) Women's Championship 2010 match between China and South Korea at Ajinomoto Stadium on February 10, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan.
  4. TOKYO - FEBRUARY 10: Yoo Mi Kim of South Korea kicks the ball during the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) Women's Championship 2010 match between China and South Korea at Ajinomoto Stadium on February 10, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan.
  5. NEW DELHI, INDIA - FEBRUARY 10: David Howell of England in action during the Pro-AM of the Avantha Masters held at The DLF Golf and Country Club on February 10, 2010 in New Delhi, India.
  6. NEW DELHI, INDIA - FEBRUARY 10: Pablo Larrazabal of Spain in action during the Pro-AM of the Avantha Masters held at The DLF Golf and Country Club on February 10, 2010 in New Delhi, India.
  7. A supporter of former army commander General Sarath Fonseka cries during a protest against Fonseka's arrest in Colombo February 10, 2010. Sri Lanka's defeated presidential candidate General Fonseka on Tuesday was in the custody of the army he led to victory in a 25-year war in May, under investigation for "certain fraudulent acts and other military offences committed by him," the military said.
  8. Supporters of former army commander General Sarath Fonseka hold up his poster during a protest against his arrest in Colombo February 10, 2010. Sri Lanka's defeated presidential candidate General Fonseka on Tuesday was in the custody of the army he led to victory in a 25-year war in May, under investigation for "certain fraudulent acts and other military offences committed by him," the military said.
  9. A supporter of president Mahinda Rajapaksa gestures, next to a riot police officer, towards supporters of former army commander General Sarath Fonseka during a protest against Fonseka's arrest in Colombo February 10, 2010. Sri Lanka's defeated presidential candidate General Fonseka on Tuesday was in the custody of the army he led to victory in a 25-year war in May, under investigation for "certain fraudulent acts and other military offences committed by him," the military said.
  10. France's rugby coach Marc Lievremont attends a news conference at Rugby Union National Centre in Marcoussis, south of Paris, February 10, 2010. France will face Ireland in the Six Nations championship match on February 13, 2010 at Stade de France.
  11. Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero speaks during a plenary session at the Spanish Parliament in Madrid, Wednesday Feb. 10, 2010. This was Zapatero's first appearance in the Parliament after Spain's recession-plagued economy contracted 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter. It was the sixth straight quarter of GDP contraction and refuted government assertions that the country might climb out of technical recession at the end of 2009, as other major European economies have.
  12. Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, left, Spain's first deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, center, and Spain's Finance Minister Elena Salgado, right, are seen during a plenary session at the Spanish Parliament in Madrid, Wednesday Feb. 10, 2010. This was Zapatero's first appearance in the Parliament after Spain's recession-plagued economy contracted 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter. It was the sixth straight quarter of GDP contraction and refuted government assertions that the country might climb out of technical recession at the end of 2009, as other major European economies have.
  13. Activists of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party listen to a speaker at a rally against price rise in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. Caricatures in the background are, from left, Indian Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.
  14. Protesters supporting defeated presidential candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka react as police fire tear gas shells during a street clash in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. Government supporters hurled stones at opposition activists protesting the arrest of their defeated presidential candidate in Sri Lanka's capital Wednesday, in scattered street battles that prompted volleys of tear gas from police.
  15. Protesters supporting defeated presidential candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka shout slogans against government as they march in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. Government supporters hurled stones at opposition activists protesting the arrest of their defeated presidential candidate in Sri Lanka's capital Wednesday, in scattered street battles that prompted volleys of tear gas from police.
  16. Sri Lankan police officers try to stop pro government protesters from attacking supporters of defeated presidential candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka during a street clash in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. Government supporters hurled stones at opposition activists protesting the arrest of their defeated presidential candidate in Sri Lanka's capital Wednesday, in scattered street battles that prompted volleys of tear gas from police.