WASHINGTON — Exactly four years after Donald Trump incited a crowd that stormed the Capitol in an unsuccessful attempt to stop the certification of his 2020 election loss and maintain his hold on power, Congress officially acknowledged his 2024 triumph on Monday.
In the midst of a citywide snow emergency declaration, Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the certification of her defeat, which proceeded without incident.
Just before the certification, Harris told NBC News that the people must defend democracy.
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The designees counted each state’s electoral votes for the victorious candidates one by one. Currently serving as a senator from Ohio, vice president-elect JD Vance observed from the first row of the chamber.
Speaker Mike Johnson, who assisted in the unsuccessful challenges to certifying President Joe Biden’s victory in 2021, was standing next to her at the lectern in the House chamber.
Following the tabulation of the votes, Harris paused for applause in the chamber before declaring that Donald J. Trump of the state of Florida had earned 312 votes. Californian candidate Kamala D. Harris has garnered 226 votes.
Despite Trump’s failure to provide any proof that the election was invalid, 147 Republicans voted four years ago to overturn the outcome and discount electors for Biden.
Instead of retaliating in kind, Democrats this time aimed to restore January 6 to its traditional status as a routine and dull ceremony where the president-elect is certified without fanfare.
The sixth of January ought to be an ordinary day. Newly elected Senator Andy Kim, D-N.J., stated that the rest of America should never have to give this day much thought. merely an official certification of the election’s outcome. The fact that we can still remember that day sort of illustrates how dysfunctional our political system is.
The leading Democrat in the House stated on Friday that there would be no drama on January 6, 2024.
As Republicans applauded, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated that Donald Trump was elected by the American people two months ago as the 47th president of the United States of America. I appreciate your kind and generous applause. It’s alright. On our side of the aisle, there are no election deniers.
“When you win and when you lose, you should love America,” Jeffries added. That is the patriotic thing to do, and because we love our nation, House Democrats will do all in our power to protect America. No single campaign, election, or person can adequately represent America.
Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s opponent, has admitted defeat. Additionally, following her visit to Capitol Hill on Friday to swear in senators, she is anticipated to oversee Trump’s certification on Monday.
Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington, issued a snow emergency on Sunday.
On Fox News on Sunday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., stated, “We have a big snowstorm coming to D.C., and we encourage all of our colleagues: Do not leave town, stay here.” Because this is required under the Electoral Count Act on January 6 at 1 p.m., as you are aware. Therefore, we will be in that chamber ensuring that this is completed whether or not there is a blizzard.
Full attendance is not necessary for the certification procedure, even with occasional absences. A large number of House Republicans are in attendance after spending the weekend in Washington for a retreat.
In an effort to stop another Jan. 6, 2021-style incident and make it more difficult for future presidential candidates to rig elections, the Democratic-controlled Congress approved a law in late 2022 that changed the certification procedure.
Among the adjustments is the clarification of the vice president’s duty, which specifies unequivocally that he or she cannot decline to tally Electoral College votes that have already been certified by the states. Additionally, a fifth of each chamber now has the ability to vote on an objection to the counting of specific electoral votes, up from only one senator and one member of the House. Additionally, it incorporates measures to prevent the introduction of fraudulent electors into the process.
Widespread protests are not anticipated in Washington this time, as in 2021, when Trump called his followers to come to Washington for the certification on January 6 and then pushed them to fight like hell during a speech that morning.
Jan. 6 has been designated as a national special security event, and Capitol Police and the Secret Service have erected temporary fencing around the Capitol for security. According to Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger, the fencing will stay in place until January 20, when Trump takes office.
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