Congress Affirms Biden's Electoral College Victory

Update - Jan. 7, 3:40 a.m. EST: Congress has affirmed President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Donald Trump.

With the counting of Vermont's three electoral votes, Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris hurdled the 270-threshold that was necessary to win the presidency.

The Senate and House rejected objections to throw out Georgia's and Pennsylvania's electoral votes for Biden. Republicans objected to Arizona's, Michigan's and Nevada's electoral votes, yet those motions failed.

Pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol on Wednesday. The violent protest, which led to the death of four people, stopped the joint session in its tracks for a few hours. Typically, it's a short ceremonial session.

Update - Jan. 7, 3:25 a.m. EST: The House of Representatives voted to reject an objection to throw out Pennsylvania's Electoral College votes for Joe Biden. The results of the vote was 282-138. The measure was also dismissed in the Senate, with a 92-7 vote. Pennsylvania was the final state to be debated during the counting of Electoral College votes.

Update - Jan. 7, 2:30 a.m. EST: Democratic Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania called for the removal of President Trump from office via the 25th Amendment.

"I certainly hope it is [possible]," she said speaking. "...I think this President has proved himself day after day, month after month, year after year to be unstable and unfit."

"In these waning days of this disgraceful presidency I hope we will be able to invoke the 25th Amendment," Dean said.

Update - Jan. 7, 1:05 a.m. EST: An objection to certify Pennsylvania's electoral votes failed in the Senate, with a 92-7 vote.

The seven senators who voted in favor of the objection are: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis, Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, Florida Sen. Rick Scott, Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Mississippi Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith

The House is yet to vote.

Update - Jan. 7, 12:35 a.m. EST: Republican objection to Pennsylvania's electoral results is under deliberation.

"I have a written objection, signed by a senator and 80 members of the House of Representatives," Republican Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania said early in the morning on Thursday in his objection. Republican Sen. Josh Hawley also objected.

The Senate and House debated the objection. The Senate is voting on the objection to the state's electoral vote.

Original Report:

Lawmakers have returned Wednesday evening to Congress to resume counting Electoral College votes hours after a dramatic insurrection at the U.S. Capitol forced the process to an abrupt halt.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reopened the proceeding at 8 p.m. Senators returned to the Capitol complex while carrying the sealed certificates of each state’s electoral votes.

"The United States and the United States Congress have faced down much greater threats than the unhinged crowd we saw today," McConnell said. "We've never been deterred before. And we'll not be deterred today. They tried to disrupt our democracy. They failed. This failed insurrection only underscores how crucial the task before us is for our republic."

Earlier in the day, McConnell urged fellow Republican lawmakers to abandon efforts to overturn the results of the election and overrule President-elect Joe Biden’s win.

“The voters, the courts and the states have all spoken. They've all spoken. If we overrule them, it would damage our republic forever,” he said.

Several GOP senators withdrew their objection to Biden’s win after the riot at the Capitol, including Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

Graham, a staunch ally of President Trump, took to the Senate floor and called on lawmakers to drop the delays in certifying Biden’s win. He also recognized Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the winners of the 2020 election.

“I think it's a uniquely bad idea to delay this election. Trump and I, we had a hell of a journey. I hate it being this way. All I can say is count me out. Enough is enough,” Graham said. “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are lawfully elected and will be the president and vice president of the United States on January the 20th.”

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz objected to Arizona’s 11 Electoral College votes for Biden and demanded the establishment of a commission to audit election results. The Senate rejected the objection with a vote of 93 to 6.

On Wednesday afternoon, thousands of MAGA supporters stormed Capitol Hill, breached barricades and pushed past police officers after Trump encouraged his supporters to march to the complex.

“We're going to walk down Pennsylvania Ave ... and we're going to [try] to give our Republicans -- the weak ones because the strong ones don't need any of our help -- we're to try and get them kind of pride and boldness they need to take back our country,” he said during the “Save America” rally.

“We’re going to walk down Pennsylvania Ave. ... and we’re going to the Capitol,” Trump said during the “Save America” rally. “We’re going to try and give our Republicans — the weak ones because the strong ones don’t need any of our help — we’re to try and give them kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country.”