Congress clears way for Biden’s inauguration, Trump pledges ‘orderly transition’

After the disruption of its joint session on Wednesday, the United States Congress has reconvened and affirmed President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory over President Donald Trump at the November 2020 elections.

The counting of Vermont’s three electoral votes during the ceremonial counting of the electoral votes, at 8pm ET, put Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris over the 270-threshold needed to win the presidency.

Lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives successfully beat back Republican efforts to deny Biden the electoral votes from swing states Arizona and Pennsylvania.

Several reports monitored online showed that the disgraceful riot at the US Capitol had sent lawmakers scrambling for safety, but members of Congress returned undeterred to fulfill their duty in certifying Biden’s 306-232 Electoral College win.

Some of the Republican lawmakers, who earlier supported Trump’s efforts to overturn the election, made a U-turn after the “shameful” incident that led to the death of four people, including a woman who was shot.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has said there will be an orderly transition on January 20, 2021.

He made the pledge hours after a joint session of the US Congress affirmed the electoral win by Biden.

“Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th,” Trump said in a statement.

“I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it’s only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again.”

Many world leaders have condemned the mayhem of Wednesday, describing it as belittling American democracy, seen globally as a model.

Abeeb Alawiye

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