The U.S Congress, on Monday, certified President-elect Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory.
This is coming four years after Trump’s supporters rioted and attacked the Capitol building — the seat of the United States Congress.
The joint session of lawmakers was presided over by Vice President Kamala Harris who lost to Trump during the November election, with 226 electoral votes against Trump’s 312 electoral votes.
Today marks exactly four years since the deadly riot at the US Capitol, when a group of Trump’s supporters besieged the building, claiming that he was robbed of the 2020 presidential poll by eventual winner, President Joe Biden.
In order to prevent the certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory, Trump’s supporters forced their way into the Capitol, destroying properties and carting away items.
The office of former Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, was among the affected parts of the building.
Reflecting on the incident in an X post on Monday, Pelosi said the events of January 6, 2021, was a big test for the country, but stated that “our democracy prevailed” in the end.
She said, “Four years ago today, our nation watched in horror as a terrorist mob stormed the Capitol grounds and desecrated our Temple of Democracy in a violent attempt to subvert the peaceful transfer of power.
“The January 6th insurrection shook our Republic to its core — and left behind physical scars and emotional trauma on members of our Congressional community and our Country that endure to this day.
“We must never forget the extraordinary courage of law enforcement officers on January 6th who stood in the breach and stared down the insurrectionists to protect the Capitol, the Congress and the Constitution.
“On January 6th, we gave proof through the night that our Flag was still there by returning to the Capitol to certify the election results and demonstrate to America and the world that our Democracy prevailed.
“As we gather today under President Lincoln’s dome to uphold our oath and peacefully certify the will of the people, we all share a responsibility to preserve American democracy — which Lincoln called, “the last best hope of earth,” she said.
Trump has repeatedly denied inciting the January 6, 2021 violence that left hundreds of policemen injured.
He had termed those arrested on that day as “political prisoners”.
His claim was helped by the US lawmakers who failed to achieve a two-third majority needed to convict him of the crime.
Meanwhile, a significant number of House Democrats were reportedly from the proceedings but Vice President, J.D. Vance was present as Congress certified Trump’s victory.
Trump’s Inauguration is scheduled to hold on January 20 as a new era begins in the United States.
U.S Congress Certifies Trump’s Election Four Years After Capitol Building Invasion is first published on The Whistler Newspaper