"Today, America’s democracy stood," Harris says as Congress certifies Trump's 2024 presidential win
On Monday, exactly four years after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, Congress certified President-elect Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, according to CNBC.
Trump received 312 Electoral College votes, compared to Harris’s 226.
Harris, who conceded the election on November 6, presided over the joint session of the House and Senate. She maintained a neutral expression while announcing the results, which drew cheers from Republicans in the House chamber.
The event, lasting approximately 30 minutes, unfolded as a formal and subdued ceremony, a stark contrast to the chaos of the Capitol riot four years ago.
After the certification, Harris told reporters, “I do believe very strongly that America’s democracy is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it. Today, America’s democracy stood.”
Harris also addressed her role in a recorded video obtained by NBC News, calling it a “sacred obligation.” She said her actions were “guided by love of country, loyalty to our Constitution and my unwavering faith in the American people.”
Unlike the 2021 proceedings, Harris and her allies did not challenge the election results or spread false claims about the outcome.
There were also no objections from Democrats during the certification, in contrast to Republican objections in 2021 when Trump urged then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject electoral votes.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer reflected on the Capitol riot earlier Monday, calling it “one of the most shameful, reprehensible episodes in the history of this great nation.”
He warned of the dangers of “election denialism” and condemned efforts to “whitewash the events of the riot.”
Schumer also criticized Trump’s promises to pardon participants in the Capitol riot, calling it “shamefully, utterly outrageous.”
He stated, “To do so would send a dangerous message to the country and the world” and “would be an insult to the memories of those who died” in connection with the riot.
The Capitol complex was under heavy security for the certification.
The Department of Homeland Security designated the event a ‘National Special Security Event’ for the first time in history. This prompted law enforcement agencies to implement a comprehensive security plan to safeguard the proceedings.
The certification occurred as hundreds of individuals remain jailed for their involvement in the Capitol riot. The Justice Department’s investigation, the largest in US history, has resulted in charges against more than 1,580 defendants and convictions for approximately 1,270 individuals.
Attorney General Merrick Garland, in a statement Monday, said, “DOJ prosecutors have sought to hold accountable those criminally responsible for the January 6 attack on our democracy with unrelenting integrity.”
Trump, who was impeached for a second time for inciting the Capitol riot, has vowed to pardon participants, possibly including those who assaulted police officers.
However, he acknowledged, “There may be some exceptions.”
Schumer harshly criticised this stance, describing the consideration of pardons as “an insult to the memories of those who died” and warning of the potential repercussions.
