Joe Biden certified as next US president
The US Senate has resumed debating the Republican challenge against Democrat Joe Biden‘s presidential election victory, just hours after four people died in riots as pro-Trump mobs attacked the Capitol.
The House of Representatives on Thursday morning rejected an objection to the electoral votes of Pennsylvania, after earlier voting to throw out a similar objection for Arizona.
It comes after outgoing president Donald Trump falsely insisted the election was marred by fraud and that he actually won.
He reiterated those claims in remarks to thousands of protesters outside the White House early on Wednesday and goaded them to march to the Capitol, which many of them did.
Four people died on the US Capitol grounds during the mayhem, while 52 others were arrested.
The storming of Capitol Hill prompted calls by some politicians to remove Mr Trump from office using the 25th Amendment of the US Constitution before president-elect Mr Biden is sworn in on 20 January.
Twitter also suspended Mr Trump’s account for 12 hours and threatened to ban him after he posted several tweets that were flagged for inciting violence, including calling rioters “great patriots”.
Four dead and at least 52 arrested after Capitol Hill riot
Four people have died and at least 52 were arrested after Donald Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday to stop Congress from certifying president-elect Joe Biden’s election victory.
In a late-night news conference, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert J Contee said 47 of the 52 arrests to date were related to violations of Washington DC mayor Muriel Bowser’s 6pm curfew, with 26 of those involving people arrested on US Capitol grounds.
Several others were arrested on charges related to carrying unlicensed or prohibited firearms.
He declined to identify the woman a Capitol Police officer shot and killed. However media reports named the woman as Ashli Babbit of San Diego, a 14-year veteran of the US Air Force.
Three other people also died on Wednesday because of medical emergencies, Mr Contee said, while 14 police officers were injured – two of whom remain hospitalised.
Chiara Giordano7 January 2021 10:22
Top China adviser reportedly among White House resignations after Capitol violence
White House deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger has resigned, according to media reports, joining a number of officials who are leaving the administration of president Donald Trump in the wake of violence on Capitol Hill.
Mr Pottinger, a leading figure in the development of Mr Trump’s China policy, resigned on Wednesday in response to Mr Trump’s reaction to a mob of protesters who breached the US Capitol, CNN reported, citing a person close to Mr Pottinger. Bloomberg first reported the resignation.
Two top aides to first lady Melania Trump also resigned on Wednesday, while Mr Pottinger’s boss, national…
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