Congress finalizes Biden's win after riot disrupts Capitol

Republican Sen. Mitt Romney condemned today's attack on the Capitol as an "insurrection" and pleaded with his Republican colleagues to drop their objections against the Electoral College votes and inform their constituents of Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election.  

Romney then warned his GOP colleagues, who have continued to mislead about the 2020 election, that they were endangering the health of the American democracy and tarnishing their own legacies.

"Those who choose to continue to support his dangerous gambit by objecting to the results of a legitimate democratic election will forever be seen as being complicit on an unprecedented attack against our democracy," he said. "...They will be remembered for their role in this shameful episode, in American history. That will be their legacy." 

Romney said lawmakers carry a responsibility to stand up for the truth regardless of the political cost. 

"The best way we can show respect for the voters who are upset is by telling them the truth," he said.

"I urge my colleagues to move forward with completing the electoral count, to refrain from further objections and to unanimously affirm the legitimacy of the presidential election," Romney concluded. 

Watch Romney speak:

President Trump told people he banned Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff Marc Short from the West Wing today, according to multiple people. 

Short was seen going into the Eisenhower Executive Office Building Wednesday, which is on the White House campus but is a separate building from the White House and where Pence has his Vice Presidential Office, but Short has otherwise spent the day on the Hill. 

Some Cabinet members are holding preliminary discussions about invoking the 25th Amendment to force President Trump’s removal from office, a GOP source said.

The discussions are ongoing but it’s unclear if there will be enough Cabinet members to result in Trump’s removal. 

The conversations have reached the Hill where some senators have been made aware of the discussions, the source said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi struck a defiant tone returning to the House chamber tonight, saying rioters had failed in their mission and assuring they would face justice. 

The Democratic leader then assured Americans that the House would continue to be about the people's business, starting tonight with certifying the election of President-elect Joe Biden.

"Despite the shameful actions of today, we still will do so," said Pelosi. "We will be part of a history that shows the world what America is made of."

"Congress has returned to the Capitol," she said. "We always knew that this responsibility would take us into the night. We will stay as long as it takes." 

Watch Pelosi speak:

Democratic Sen. Cory Booker condemned efforts by rioters to disrupt Congress's electoral vote process.

Booker noted that he could only recall two moments in US history when individuals laid siege on the country's Capitol: The War of 1812 and today.

Booker blasted those who were spreading conspiracy theories and false claims about voter fraud perpetuated by President Trump.

"It is unprecedented that he's fanning the flames of conspiracy theory to create a smokescreen in this nation. To cover what he is trying to do, which is undermine our democratic principles. But it is not just that. The shame of of this day —it's being aided and abetted by good Americans who are falling prey, who are choosing Trump over truth," Booker said.

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After violent pro-Trump protesters stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday, a growing number of Republican leaders told CNN that they believe Donald Trump should be removed from office before Jan. 20. Four of them called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked, and two others said the President should be impeached.

"He has to be impeached and removed," said one current Republican elected official.

A former senior official said the President's actions were egregious enough to remove him even with such a short time left in his tenure.

"I think this has been huge a shock to the system," said the former official. "How do you keep him in place for two weeks after this?"

By impeaching and removing Trump, even at this late stage of his term, the Senate could subsequently vote to disqualify Trump from ever holding federal office again. On the other hand, invoking the 25th Amendment would require Vice President Mike Pence and a majority of the Cabinet to vote to remove Trump from office due to his inability to "discharge the powers and duties of his office" — an unprecedented step.

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Several of President Trump's top aides, including national security adviser Robert O'Brien, are considering resigning in the wake of his response to a pro-Trump mob breaching the US Capitol today.

O'Brien, deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger, and deputy chief of staff Chris Liddell are all considering resigning as soon as tonight, according to multiple sources familiar. Pottinger's resignation appears to be imminent while others could sleep on it. 

Earlier Wednesday, O’Brien took the unusual step of defending Vice President Mike Pence as Trump has been more consumed by his refusal to do his bidding today than the mob that breached Capitol Hill. O'Brien says he showed courage today as Trump lambasted him.

Republican Sen. Ben Sasse this evening took to the Senate floor to ask his fellow Americans to remember what is great about their country, even after the day's harrowing events.

"I don't think we want to tell our kids that America's best days are behind us because it is not true," said Sasse. "That's not who we are." 

"There is a lot that's broken in this country but not anything that is so big that the American people cannot rebuild it," he continued. "That freedom, and community, and entrepreneurial effort and that neighborhoods can't rebuild, nothing that is broken is so big that we cannot fix it."

"America, is the most exceptional nation in the history of the world and the Constitution is the greatest political document that has ever been written," he said. 

Sasse concluded with a call for Americans to love each other.

"Most importantly, love your neighbor," he said.

Watch:

White House social secretary Anna Cristina “Rickie” Niceta has resigned her role, effective immediately, a White House official tells CNN.

Niceta served as the Trump administration’s sole social secretary, assuming the post in February 2017.

Niceta becomes the second senior East Wing staffer to resign her job in the wake of today’s violent protests at the Capitol.

Stephanie Grisham, the former White House communications director and press secretary and current chief of staff for first lady Melania Trump, submitted her resignation Wednesday afternoon.

Some background on Niceta's role: The social secretary conducts and oversees all events at the White House, from small meetings in the West Wing, to the annual Easter Egg Roll, Halloween, state visits and Congressional picnics and galas.

Prior to becoming social secretary, Niceta was an executive with Washington, D.C., catering company Design Cuisine. Melania Trump hired Niceta after being impressed with the food at the inaugural luncheon in the US Capitol building.