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US Congress certifying Biden’s electoral college victory

People protest in downtown Washington, DC as thousands of pro-Trump and far-right demonstrators arrive in the city on the eve of the official certification of the Electoral College ballots on January 05, 2021 in Washington, DC.

US Congress is certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s electoral college victory  in the 2020 presidential election despite attempts by outgoing Trump administration to block the vote.

Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) objected to recording his home state's Electoral College tally, triggering a debate and votes in the House and Senate on Wednesday amid protests by pro-Trump activists in Washington, DC.

Republican leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnel, threw his support behind the process once again and the objections were expected to bear no tangible result in the Congress formalization of the Democratic candidate’s victory.

Vice President Pence and the senators escorted across the Capitol the electoral college votes certified by the states, rejecting Donald Trump’s request to overturn the results.

“It is my considered judgement that my oath to support and defend the constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not,” Pence said. “Given the controversy surrounding this year’s election, some approach this year’s quadrennial tradition with great expectation, and others with dismissive disdain.”

Trump has been hoping to be saved from the defeat by other Republicans, a wish that has not so far come true.

“Mike Pence, I hope you’re gonna stand up for the good of our Constitution and for the good of our country, and if you’re not I’m gonna be very disappointed in you, I will tell you right now,” Trump said at the rally.

The Republicans were, meanwhile, facing another defeat: losing the Senate majority through the Georgia runoff elections.

"[It's] obviously a disappointing setback if you're a Republican, to say the least. I think it shows maybe we've been too distracted with other things. We should have been more focused on Georgia with a clearer message nationally," Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said. "That's not a criticism of the candidates or the campaign people… I think they had much more of a laser focus than we did. And I think it helped [the Democrats]."


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