President-elect Joe Biden.Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty
After a dramatic and violent siege of the U.S. Capitol building, members of Congress finally reconvened late Wednesday night to ratify the Electoral College results.
The dramatically delayed vote further confirms President-electJoe Bidenwill take the oath of office in two weeks as the nation’s next leader.
The vote, affirming Biden’s 306-232 electoral victory over PresidentDonald Trump, came after an hours-long delay when rioters stormed the Capitol, forcing lawmakers to evacuate.
In the violent bombardment of the Capitol, at leastone woman was fatally shot, and three others were left dead after suffering from “medical emergencies,” Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert J. Contee III said in apress conferencelate Wednesday night. Several MPD officers were injured in the riots.
“The violence and destruction taking place at the US Capitol Must Stop and it Must Stop Now,” Vice President Mike Pence, who was presiding over the initial meeting and was evacuated along with other lawmakers in attendance,tweetedamid the chaos.
“Peaceful protest is the right of every American but this attack on our Capitol will not be tolerated and those involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Pence, 61, added.
Rioters at the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021.Tasos Katopodis/Getty
Pro-Trump rioters breach the U.S. Capitol building.Andrew Harnik/AP/Shutterstock
Hours before, Trump continued to publicly pressure Pence to use his capacity as the Senate’s president to block the ratification process and somehow hand him an undeserved victory.
Pence, in a statement before the session, made it clear his role in the joint session was “largely ceremonial” and he didn’t have the power, or intention, to overrule the states’ votes.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, another longtime Trump loyalist, also broke ranks with the president.
Both Pence and McConnelldenounced the pro-Trump rioters' violencewhen the session resumed Wednesday evening.
While some GOP lawmakers changed their minds on objecting after the day’s riot — including Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) — Hawleyobjectedto the counting of Pennsylvania’s Electoral College votes.
Soon after the violent mob made their way to the Senate chamber, Cruzcalled on the pro-Trump riotersto “stop NOW.”
U.S. Capitol building.Drew Angerer/Getty
PresidentGeorge W. Bushlater called the riots an “insurrection” in a statement, while other former presidents includingBarack Obamaand other world leaders responded to theshocking photosshared on social media and on television.
“Disgraceful scenes in U.S. Congress,” tweeted British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. “The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power.”
Trump told his supporters before they stormed the Capitol: “We will never give up, we will never concede.”
Regardless of Trump’s claims, Biden will be sworn into office in two weeks.
“Today’s a reminder, a painful one, democracy is fragile,” Biden said in a speech addressing the violence. “To preserve it requires people of goodwill, leaders with the courage to stand up, who are devoted not to the pursuit of power or personal interests, but of the common good.”
The president-elect added: “America is so much better than what we’ve seen today.”
On Thursday morning, Trumpofficially agreed to an “orderly” transitionon Jan. 20, but while still saying he disagrees “with the outcome of the election” and referencing his baseless claims of voter fraud.
“Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th,” Trumpsaid in a statementafter Congress certified his defeat.
source: people.com
