Congress resumed counting electoral votes on Wednesday night, hours after the U.S. Capitol was cleared after protesters broke into the building. Members of Congress were forced to evacuate after supporters of President Donald Trump disrupted debate to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. Supporters of the President spilled into the streets of Washington to protest as Congress met.
Senate quickly rejects challenge to Pa. electors
Update 12:46 a.m. ET Jan. 7: By a vote of 7-92, the Senate did not sustain the objection to the certification of Pennsylvania’s electoral ballots. The following senators voted in favor: Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Cynthia Lummus of Wyoming, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Tommy Tuberville of Arkansas and Rick Scott of Florida.
Congress splits up to debate Pennsylvania vote count
Update 12:21 a.m. ET Jan. 7: An objection to accepting the Electoral College votes from Pennsylvania was raised, and Pence accepted it when it was signed and sponsored by both a member of the House and a senator: Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania and Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri.
The two bodies are going back to their chambers to debate the objections. They can take up to two hours to debate the issue.
Senators return to House chamber
11:36 p.m. ET Jan. 6: Members of the Senate have returned to the House chamber to continue certification of the electoral votes.
House rejects objection to Arizona electoral vote
11:11 p.m. ET Jan. 6: The House voted to reject the objection to the electoral vote in Arizona, following the Senate’s action about 30 minutes earlier. The House rejected the challenge by a 303-121 margin.
Earlirer, the Senate voted to reject the objection to the electoral vote in Arizona by a 93-6 margin.
Congress will now reconvene to continue the certification of the states’ electoral votes.
DC police: 4 people died as result of protests
11:10 p.m. ET Jan. 6: At a news conference, DC Police interim chief Robert J. Contee III said four people died as a result of the protest at the Capitol. One woman was shot by police, and three others died via medical emergencies.
“One adult female and two adult males appear to have suffered from separate medical emergencies, which resulted in their deaths,” Contee said at a news conference. “Any loss of life in the district is tragic and our thoughts are with anyone impacted by their loss.”
DC police: 52 people arrested
11:04 p.m. ET Jan. 6: At a news conference, Robert J. Contee III, the interim chief of police in the District of Columbia said 52 people have been arrested since protesters stormed the Capitol. That number includes people who have violated the curfew that was put into place by Mayor Muriel Bowser at 6 p.m. ET.
DC mayor extends public emergency for 15 days
10:41 p.m. ET Jan. 6: Muriel Bowser, the mayor of the District of Columbia, issued an order extending the public emergency in the district for 15 days.
Today, First Amendment protests turned violent,” the order reads. “Many persons came to the District armed and for the purpose of engaging in violence and destruction and have engaged in violence and destruction. They have fired chemical irritants, bricks, bottles, and guns. They have breached the security of the Capitol and their destructive and riotous behavior has the potential to spread beyond the Capitol. Their motivation is ongoing. Today, they sought to disrupt the Congressional proceedings relating to the acceptance of electoral college votes. President Trump continues to fan rage and violence by contending that the Presidential election was invalid. Persons are dissatisfied with judicial rulings and the findings of State Boards of Elections, and some persons can be expected to continue their violent protests through the inauguration.”
House voting on objection to Arizona electoral vote
10:32 p.m. ET Jan. 6: The House has begun voting on the objection to Arizona’s electoral vote, several moments after the Senate rejected the measure by a 93-6 margin.
Senate rejects objection to Arizona electoral vote
10:12 p.m. ET Jan. 6: The Senate voted to reject the objection to the electoral vote in Arizona. The Senate turned back the challenge by a 93-6 margin.
Those voting against the results were: Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri, Ted Cruz of Texas, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Roger Marshall of Kansas and John Kennedy of Louisiana.
Congress will now return to a joint session and continue to count the Electoral College votes.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said the House vote would probably occur “sometime between 11:30 p.m. and midnight.”
DC police say 30 arrested for breaking curfew
10:05 p.m. Jan. 6: The Metropolitan Police Department said that as of 9:30 p.m. ET, there have been 30 arrests related to people violating the curfew in Washington, D.C.
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