US Congress certifies Biden’s election win

WASHINGTON: For the first time since the November 3 election, US President Donald Trump acknowledged his defeat and announced there would be an “orderly transition on January 20th” after Congress concluded the electoral vote count early Thursday certifying Presidentelect Joe Biden’s victory.

Trump’s acknowledgment came after a day of chaos and destruction on Capitol Hill as a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol building and unleashed unprecedented scenes of mayhem as it tried to halt the peaceful transition of power.

“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,” Trump said in a statement posted to Twitter by his social media director. His own account had been locked by the company for posting messages that appeared to justify the assault on the seat of the nation’s democracy. Trump added, “While this represents the end of the great

Aest first term in presidential history, it’s only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again!”

The statement was the first time Trump formally acknowledged his loss after spending the last two months refusing to concede and lobbing baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud, even though his own Justice Department, federal courts and state governments have said repeatedly the vote was carried out freely and fairly.

After a day of chaos, the Electoral College votes were approved, with the Senate and the House of Representatives rejecting objections raised by the Republicans to the votes in the states of Pennsylvania and Arizona. Biden and Harris received 306 electoral votes, while Trump and vice-president Mike Pence got 232. The counting of Vermont’s three electoral votes put Biden and Harris over the 270threshold needed to win the presidency.

The 78-year-old Democratic leader and his 56-year-old Indian-origin deputy will be inaugurated on January 20.