Sen. Jeff Merkley Jeffrey (Jeff) Alan MerkleyThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden renew push for Latino support Sunday shows - Trump team defends coronavirus response Oregon senator says Trump's blame on 'forest management' for wildfires is 'just a big and devastating lie' MORE (D-Ore.) on Thursday decried Senate Republicans triggering the so-called nuclear option to advance Neil Gorsuch, President Trump's Supreme Court nominee.

Merkley, who launched an all-night protest on the Senate floor Tuesday in opposition to Gorsuch's nomination, said in tweets that "the dark deed is done."

For 1st time in U.S. history, debate was just closed on #SCOTUS nominee with <60 votes. This is profoundly damaging to integrity of #SCOTUS. — Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) April 6, 2017

The dark deed is done. McConnell has just put a knife into the heart of our We the People republic. — Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) April 6, 2017

.@SenateMajLdr is filling this stolen seat with a proponent of the dark mega-money that is corrupting our elections. Unacceptable! — Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) April 6, 2017

His comments came after Senate Republicans voted Thursday to strip Democrats of the power to filibuster Supreme Court nominees like Gorsuch.

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Senators voted 52-48 along party lines to lower the threshold for advancing nominees from 60 votes to a simple majority.

The historic step was immediately followed by a 55-45 vote to end debate on Gorsuch’s nomination and set up a final confirmation vote on Friday.

Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinSenate leaders quash talk of rank-and-file COVID-19 deal OVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week | EPA reappoints controversial leader to air quality advisory committee | Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' Senate Democrats demand White House fire controversial head of public lands agency MORE (W.Va.), Heidi Heitkamp Mary (Heidi) Kathryn HeitkampCentrists, progressives rally around Harris pick for VP 70 former senators propose bipartisan caucus for incumbents Susan Collins set to play pivotal role in impeachment drama MORE (N.D.) and Joe Donnelly Joseph (Joe) Simon DonnellyEx-Sen. Joe Donnelly endorses Biden Lobbying world 70 former senators propose bipartisan caucus for incumbents MORE (Ind.) joined with Republicans to advance Trump’s Supreme Court pick.

A Senate standoff had been brewing between Democrats and Republicans for weeks before Thursday’s events.

Democrats still angry over the Senate GOP's refusal to give former President Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, a hearing or vote last year vowed to resist Gorsuch’s nomination.

Republicans have argued Democrats would resist any nominee from Trump for the nation’s highest court, regardless of their qualifications.

“The opposition to this particular nominee is more about the man that nominated him and the party he represents than the nominee himself,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally MORE (R-Ky.) said before Thursday’s votes.

Trump nominated Gorsuch in February, arguing he would make a worthy successor to conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, whose death in early 2016 left the court mostly deadlocked on ideological lines.