WASHINGTON — Exactly four years after he incited a mob that stormed the Capitol in an unsuccessful attempt to thwart the certification of his 2020 election loss and maintain his hold on power, Congress is set to convene Monday amidst a citywide declaration of snow emergency to certify President-elect Donald Trump’s 2024 victory.
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 President Joe Biden.
Democrats do not intend to retaliate in kind this time. They plan to restore January 6 to its traditional status as a dull and routine ceremony where the president-elect is sworn in without any fanfare.
Republicans applauded when House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., stated in a floor speech Friday that Donald Trump was chosen 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.
For members of Congress who traveled out of town over the weekend, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a snow emergency on Sunday that is predicted to persist until early Tuesday.
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 process, even if there are some absences. Additionally, a large number of House Republicans took a weekend retreat in Washington.
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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