House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reconvened the chamber after a violent pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol during a joint session of Congress to count electoral votes supporting President-Elect Joe Biden’s win.
Counting electoral votes is a necessary and usually routine step in the presidential election process but one that some Republicans intended to challenge this year by objecting to results in specific states. Trump supporters, including members of the Proud Boys extremist group, also traveled to the nation’s capital to protest Biden’s win, echoing the president’s false and unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud.
After Trump addressed protesters on the national mall, they marched to the Capitol and charged the halls of the building, forcing evacuations of lawmakers, staff and journalists covering the proceedings. One woman was shot and killed in the violence.
Hours later, when proceedings resumed, Pelosi told members the presidential election process is a chance to show the world the resilience of American democracy.
“Despite the shameful actions of today, we will still do so, we will be part of a history that shows the world what America is made of,” Pelosi said.
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