U.S. Congress affirmed President-elect Joe Biden's victory after Pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol and the delayed proceedings.
In the gravest assault on the symbol of American democracy in more than 200 years, rioters forced their way past metal security barricades, broke windows and scaled walls to fight their way into the Capitol.
Hours later, both houses of Congress resumed their work on certifying Biden’s Electoral College win, with debate stretching into the early hours of Thursday. It quickly became clear that objections from pro-Trump Republican lawmakers to Biden’s victory in battleground states would be rejected overwhelmingly, including by many Republicans. The session certified Biden's 306 votes to Trump's 232.
The Senate rejected by a 93-6 vote Republican objections to the certification of Biden’s victory in the battleground state of Arizona, ensuring their defeat. The House of Representatives, controlled by Democrats, also rejected the move by a 303-121 vote.
The Senate also rejected an objection to the certification in Pennsylvania on a 92-7 vote. The House rejected that objection, expected to be the final one debated, as well by a 282-138 tally.
The assault on the Capitol was the culmination of months of divisive and escalating rhetoric around the Nov. 3 election, with Trump repeatedly making false claims that the vote was rigged and urging his supporters to help him overturn his loss, Reuters reported.
