Shaken Congress speeds up Biden’s confirmation
A sober, shaken US Senate returned to its chamber to slap away a frivolous presidential election challenge, but its secondary purpose seemed to be to rise from the wreckage of a shocking day in which lawmakers were forced to flee the US Capitol by a mob of violent supporters of President Donald Trump.
The riot in the Capitol yesterday prompted more than half of the Republicans who had signed on to the protest against the congressional certification of US President-elect Joe Biden’s victory to instead vote ‘‘no’’.
‘‘We will not be kept out of this chamber by thugs, mobs, or threats. We will not bow to lawlessness or intimidation,’’ said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. ‘‘We are back at our posts. We will discharge our duty under the Constitution for our nation. And we are going to do it tonight.’’
The pro-Trump mob had earlier stormed the Capitol in Washington, DC and interrupted proceedings. Four people died – one of them a woman who was shot and killed inside the Capitol, and three in medical emergencies. The crowd was forcibly removed by police after a nearly four-hour occupation.
The Senate quickly killed Republican objections to Arizona and Pennsylvania’s electoral votes for Biden. McConnell said he believed no other states’ votes would be challenged.
Trump reiterated his baseless voter fraud claims in remarks to thousands of protesters outside the White House yesterday and goaded them to march to the Capitol, which many of them did.
Lawmakers are vowing an investigation into how law enforcement handled the violent breach, questioning whether there was a lack of preparedness.
US Capitol Police turned to other law enforcement for help with the mob. Police said 52 people were arrested. Fourteen officers were injured.
California Democrat Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, chair of the House Administration Committee, said the breach ‘‘raises grave security concerns’’.
California Democrat Congresswoman Karen Bass said she was outraged to see accounts on social media of a Capitol Police officer posing for a photo with a protester. ‘‘Would you take a selfie with someone who was robbing a bank?’’ she asked.
Dozens of pro-Trump protesters remained on the streets of the capital in defiance of a 6pm curfew imposed after the riot. Officers in full riot gear lined the streets near the Capitol.
Trump later appeared to justify the violent occupation of the Capitol by his supporters. In a tweet, he said: ‘‘These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long.’’
In an unprecedented step, Twitter suspended Trump’s account for 12 hours and removed three of his tweets, and said future violations could result in a permanent suspension.