Despite the throng of protesters, many of whom were believed to be supporters of President Donald Trump that tried to incite chaos through violence, the US Congress formally certified Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the next president and vice president of the United States.
This action brings the US electoral process to a peaceful close after a day marked by tumult and angry protests from a mob that fought local and federal law enforcement agencies. The protesters defied the police barricade and tried to storm the US Capitol, to the horror of the legislators who were counting the electoral college votes at that time.
A woman from among the protesters was shot dead while three others died from medical emergencies. A total of 52 people were arrested by the Washington police.
The 78-year-old former US VP Biden will be formally inaugurated as the country’s 46th President on January 20, 2021 even if President Donald Trump still refuses to concede, claiming widespread election fraud.
“The United States Senate will not be intimidated,” Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said. McConnell rejected Trump’s accusations of election fraud, calling it as “unfounded.”
“We will not bow to lawlessness or intimidation. We are back at our posts. We will discharge our duty under the constitution,” McConnell said after the Senate reconvened to proceed with the count.
The US Constitution requires Congress to count the votes of the Electoral College submitted by the states. Biden won 306 electors to 232 for Trump.
The counting of the electoral college votes had just begun when obviously pro-Trump protesters, with their Trump flags and hats with “Make America Great Again” written all over, broke into the US Capitol building and swarmed through the hallways, forcing members in both the House and the Senate to retreat to secure locations.