[ad_1]
The US Congress early Thursday certified the Electoral College vote that gave Democrat Joe Biden his presidential victory – after a day in Washington that was marred by pro-Trump protesters who stormed the US Capitol.
Vice President Mike Pence, who had announced that he would not reverse the will of voters, confirmed Biden’s victory at 3:41 a.m. ET.
Lawmakers had returned to the chamber in an act of defiance, with some Republicans who initially vowed to challenge state results due to voter fraud concerns, announcing that they would vote to certify instead.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Called the Capitol breach a “failed insurgency”, adding that those who “tried to disrupt our democracy” had failed.
“The United States and the Senate will not be intimidated,” he tweeted. “We are back to our posts. We will discharge our duty under the Constitution for our nation. And we will do so tonight.”
McConnell announced earlier that once the Senate votes 92-7 to reject the Republican effort to overturn Pennsylvania’s vote, the way would be clear for Biden to claim the White House on January 20.
Despite growing Republicans’ support to challenge the election result, the effort has always been viewed as having little chance of success.
THE PELOSI OFFICE SHAPED DURING THE CHAOS
Dan Scavino, the White House deputy chief of staff, released a statement from Trump on Twitter calling for calm.
“Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the elections, and the facts confirm it, there will nonetheless be an orderly transition on January 20,” the statement said. “I have always said that we will continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes are counted. While this marks the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it is only the beginning of our fight to make America great again! ”
The political fallout from Wednesday’s chaos appeared to cast serious doubt on President Trump’s future as leader of the Republican Party. Sen Lindsey Graham, the Republican of South Carolina, addressed the Senate, saying Trump had been a “consistent” president for four years in office, “but today … count on me. Enough is enough. enough.”
Senator Kelly Loeffler, who is set to lose her second round in Georgia to Reverend Raphael Warnock, was among the senators who said they had changed their minds on challenging Biden’s victory.
“When I arrived in Washington this morning, I fully intended to oppose certification of electoral votes,” Loeffler, R-Ga., Said in a Senate address. “However, the events of today have forced me to reconsider and I cannot now, in good conscience, oppose myself.”
Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Also announced that she would vote to certify the results.
There seemed to be a feeling of sadness among lawmakers as it arrived later that night. Senator Mike Rounds, RS.D., told reporters it was probably one of the saddest days he has experienced as an elected official.
“What would normally have been a tradition in the move towards the peaceful transition of power from one administration to another has been marred by violence, thugs, disinformation and clearly should never have happened,” he said. he says.
COTTON CALLS FOR TRUMP TO ‘LEAVE SUPPLIERS’
Critics of the president slammed him for stoking the anger of his supporters and said a violent incident was inevitable. They say the president pushed the false rhetoric of election interference for the past month and his presidency was doomed to end in chaos.
Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have temporarily suspended the president from posting on their platforms. The Associated Press reported that this was the most aggressive action social media companies have ever taken against the president.
JONATHAN TURLEY: THE LEGACY OF TRUMP “ IN TATTERS ” AFTER EMPLOYING SUPPORTERS AT CAPITOL
Trump supporters noted that the president called for calm. They say Trump never had his day in court and that there were enough voting irregularities to warrant further inspection. They also criticized the media coverage of the unrest on Capitol Hill and criticized news organizations for turning a blind eye to the violence that erupted in major cities last summer.
Donald Trump Jr. also called for calm in a previous tweet.
“This is wrong and not who we are,” he wrote. “Be peaceful and use your 1st Amendment rights, but don’t start acting like the other side. We have a country to save and it’s not helping anyone.”
Washington DC police said at a press conference Wednesday night that there were four deaths – including one fatally shot – and at least 52 arrests during the day.
Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat who clashed with Trump, has ordered an extension of the public emergency already in place for the next 15 days, which will overlap with Biden’s inauguration.
The woman who was shot was Ashi Babbitt, a U.S. Air Force veteran from San Diego, Calif., A friend told Fox News. DC Police confirmed that she was shot by one of their agents.
The other three deaths were medical, according to reports.
Sen. Ted Cruz, of R-Texas, told Fox News last Sunday that the Supreme Court was a “better forum” than Congress for examining electoral issues, but the court has not taken matters into its own hands.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Cruz wanted a 10-day results audit by an electoral commission.
“Election fraud has posed a persistent challenge in our elections, although its scale and scope are disputed,” lawmakers said in a statement on Saturday.
“Regardless of the measure, the allegations of fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election surpass any in our life,” said Cruz.
The senator condemned those who stormed the Capitol in a Twitter message. He said the constitution “protects peaceful protests, but violence – left or right – is ALWAYS bad.”
He issued a statement early Thursday that called the incident a “despicable act of terrorism and a shocking assault on our democratic system.” He said he called on the electoral commission to give confidence to millions of Americans in the election and “very much wishes Congress did not put these concerns aside.”
But he said he respected their positions.
“Debate in both houses of Congress is the right way to resolve our political differences, not through violent attacks,” he said.
Fox News’ Chad Pergram, Brie Stimson and David Aaro contributed to this report
[ad_2]
Source link