Congress finalizes Biden's win after riot disrupts Capitol

By Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes, Melissa Mahtani, Veronica Rocha and Fernando Alfonso III, CNN

Updated 5:15 p.m. ET, January 7, 2021
223 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
2:54 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

GOP senator says Pence is "very upset" with Trump's criticism of him

From CNN's Sarah Fortinsky

Vice President Mike Pence officiates as a joint session of the House and Senate reconvenes to confirm the Electoral College votes at the Capitol on Wednesday, January 6.
Vice President Mike Pence officiates as a joint session of the House and Senate reconvenes to confirm the Electoral College votes at the Capitol on Wednesday, January 6. Erin Schaff/The New York Times/AP

Sen. Jim Inhofe, a Republican from Oklahoma, said he talked to Vice President Mike Pence about President Trump's criticisms of him, and Pence "was very upset with him."

Inhofe also called Trump's comments "regrettable."

Pence on Wednesday publicly broke with Trump, saying he cannot submit to demands he overthrow the results of the election.

Pence formalized his views in a letter to lawmakers, declaring he has no "unilateral authority to decide presidential contests" and could not change the results of the election.

"It is my considered judgement that my oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not," he wrote.

CNN's Kevin Liptak and Kaitlan Collins contributed to this report.

1:20 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

Michigan congressman condemns colleagues who tried to undermine election

From CNN's Josiah Ryan

Michigan Democrat Rep. Dan Kildee tonight issued a strong condemnation of his Republican colleagues whose rhetoric helped foment the attack the US Capitol on Wednesday, saying their names should be remembered forever. 

This was "whipped up by politicians... the President of the United States himself and some of my colleagues who know better," said Kildee, speaking on CNN this morning.

"Those members of Congress who supported this specious attack on the Electoral College vote will have their names permanently written in ink and everyone should know those names," said Kildee. 

 "I will never look at my colleagues who voted for these challenges, who fueled this insanity... the same, and that includes some of my Michigan colleagues who I could not look in the eye today when we were huddled in a safe place," he said.

"I hope we remember those names forever," he concluded.

Watch the moment:

12:47 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

These 7 senators voted to sustain the objection against Pennsylvania's electoral votes

An objection to certify Pennsylvania's electoral votes failed in the Senate tonight, with a 92-7 vote.

Here are the seven Republican senators who voted to sustain the objection:

  • Texas Sen. Ted Cruz
  • Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley
  • Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis
  • Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall
  • Florida Sen. Rick Scott
  • Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville
  • Mississippi Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith
12:36 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

Senate is voting now on Pennsylvania objection

From CNN’s Ted Barrett

The Senate is voting on the objection of Pennsylvania’s Electoral College vote count now.

Lawmakers yielded their time allocated for debate, and are expected to reject the attempt to throw out the state's votes for President-elect Joe Biden.

The objection was presented by Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry and Sen. Josh Hawley.

12:34 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

GOP objection to Pennsylvania's electoral results is now under deliberation

GOP Rep. Scott Perry.
GOP Rep. Scott Perry. House TV

Vice President Mike Pence has accepted Pennsylvania's objection to its electoral results.

"I have a written objection, signed by a senator and 80 members of the House of Representatives," GOP Rep. Scott Perry said early Thursday morning in his objection.

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley joined the objection as well.

Because the objection has been signed by both a congressman and a senator, the Senate will now reconvene and both it and the House will debate the objection. Each chamber will then vote on whether to sustain the objection.

CNN's Phil Mattingly has more:

2:55 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

GOP objection to Nevada's electoral results rejected due to senator not joining their effort

Republican Rep. Mo Brooks.
Republican Rep. Mo Brooks. House TV

Vice President Mike Pence rejected an objection presented by Republican Rep. Mo Brooks to Nevada's electoral votes after their bid failed to include a signature from a senator.

The congressman said they objected to Nevada's electoral votes "in order to protect the lawful votes of Nevada and all other American citizens."

He noted, however, that "unfortunately" no senator had joined in their effort.

Nevada's votes were certified for President-elect Joe Biden.

Remember: Each objection must be put in writing and signed by both a congressman and senator in order for the joint session to be paused and the House and Senate adjourn to separately consider it.

Watch the moment:

12:27 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

GOP bid to object to Michigan's electoral result fails

Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Source: House TV

A bid by Republicans to object to Michigan's electoral results, which certified President-elect Joe Biden's win, failed tonight in a joint session of Congress.

The objection was raised by Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who confirmed that it was in writing but had not been signed by a senator.

Because the objection lacked the signature, Vice President Mike Pence rejected the action.

"In that case, the objection cannot be entertained," Pence said, drawing applause from members of Congress.

And as a result, the objection failed.

Watch the moment:

12:24 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021

Rejection of GOP objection to Georgia's electoral results draws applause in Congress

From CNN’s Kristin Wilson

Republican lawmakers objected to Georgia's electoral results, which certified President-elect Joe Biden's win, tonight on Capitol Hill.

GOP Rep. Jody Hice, of Georgia, objected to the election results in the state claiming they were "faulty and fraudulent."

When asked by Vice President Mike Pence whether these objections were presented in writing and signed by one senator, Hice said: "Mr. President, prior to the actions and events of today, we did, but following the events of today, it appears that some senators have withdrawn their objection."

Hice's response drew vigorous applause from other lawmakers.

"In that case, the objection cannot be entertained," Pence said in response.

Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler had indicated earlier today that she would object, but withdrew it after protestors stormed the Capitol Wednesday saying, "I cannot now object to the certification of these electors."

Georgia’s votes are now certified for President-elect Joe Biden.

Remember: Each objection must be put in writing and signed by both a congressman and senator in order for the joint session to be paused and the House and Senate adjourn to separately consider it. 

Watch the moment:

11:59 p.m. ET, January 6, 2021

Track the electoral vote count in Congress

From CNN's Sean O’Key and Zachary B. Wolf

Electoral votes for president are counted during a joint session of Congress after they resumed the session following protests at the US Capitol in Washington on January 6.
Electoral votes for president are counted during a joint session of Congress after they resumed the session following protests at the US Capitol in Washington on January 6. Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

The joint session of Congress is counting the electoral ballots.

Four lawmakers designated as "tellers" — two from the House and two from the Senate — are reading the certificates of vote from each state.

They are doing this in alphabetical order. The teller just read the votes from Maine.

Track the electoral vote count in Congress here.