BOSTON (February 3, 2010)—Scott Brown, the Republican who captured the late Edward Kennedy's seat in the U.S. Senate, says he wants to be sworn in immediately, not next week as planned.

Brown’s attorney says in a letter Wednesday to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick that the senator-elect has been told there may be votes in which he wants to participate.

The attorney says Brown wants the results of the Jan. 19 election certified by 11 a.m. Thursday so they can be forwarded to Senate officials for immediate action.

The demand reverses Brown's earlier statements on the issue.

He had said he was content to wait until Feb. 11 for his swearing-in so he could hire a staff and be prepared to assume his duties.

Brown upset Democrat Martha Coakley to win the Senate seat Kennedy held for more than a half-century.

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said officials plan to swear Brown in Thursday.

Reid’s spokesman says officials intend to swear in the new senator at 4 p.m. Thursday CST.