07 January 2021 1 Min Read

After Trump supporters storm US Capitol, Congress certifies Biden win

in News by Reuters

US Vice President Mike Pence reads the final certification of Electoral College votes during a joint session of Congress to count the Electoral College votes of the 2020 presidential election in the House Chamber in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, January 7, 2021. Joe Biden was formally recognised by Congress as the next US president early Thursday, ending two months of failed challenges by his predecessor, Donald Trump, that exploded into violence at the US Capitol as lawmakers met to ratify the election result.
Image: J. Scott Applewhite

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Hours after hundreds of President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the US Capitol in a harrowing assault on American democracy, a shaken Congress on Thursday formally certified Democrat Joe Biden’s election victory.

Late on Wednesday houses of Congress resumed their work on certifying Biden's Electoral College win, with debate stretching into the early hours of Thursday. After the debate, the House and Senate rejected two objections to the tally and certified the final Electoral College vote with Biden receiving 306 votes and Trump 232 votes.

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The outcome had never been in doubt, but had been interrupted by rioters – spurred on by Trump – who forced their way past metal security barricades, broke windows and scaled walls to fight their way into the Capitol.

Police said four people died during the chaos - one from gunshot wounds and three from medical emergencies – and 52 people were arrested.

Some besieged the House of Representatives chamber while lawmakers were inside, banging on its doors and forcing suspension of the certification debate. Security officers piled furniture against the chamber's door and drew their pistols before helping lawmakers and others escape.