Merrick Garland

A Greek-born Alaska man accused of sending graphic threats to injure and kill six Supreme Court justices and some of their family members has been indicted on federal charges, authorities said Thursday.

The U.S. Senate on Friday narrowly confirmed President Donald Trump's pick to the Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch. 

Presided over by Vice President Mike Pence, the 54-45 near party-line vote caps a partisan saga that has seen Republicans pursue a rule change widely regarded as the "nuclear option". 

U.S. President Barack Obama chose the centrist judge Merrick Garland for a pivotal vacancy on the Supreme Court March 16, warning Republican foes their "unprecedented" refusal to consider his nominee threatens the integrity of U.S. institutions.

Obama tapped the 63-year-old judge to replace conservative stalwart Justice Antonin Scalia, who died unexpectedly on March 13.