Mitch McConnell Says Overturning Election Would Push Democracy Into A Death Spiral If this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral. We d never see the whole nation accept the election again, he said in the upper chamber.
The comment came at the opening of the upper chamber s first debate that is expected to end with Congress certifying Democrat Joe Biden s victory.
The Hill wrote that at least 14 Republican senators are expected to challenge the electoral results. However, objections require a majority in both chambers to be successful, which the publication suggested is not likely to happen.
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US lawmakers are braced for a volatile session to confirm Joe Biden as the next president, as Donald Trump s supporters protest against the result.
A joint session of Congress will count and confirm electoral college votes.
The proceedings to select the president are usually brief and ceremonial.
But some Republicans loyal to President Trump have vowed to support his efforts to overturn the result by formally objecting at the session, in a bid that is almost certain to fail.
For days Mr Trump has also been pressuring Vice-President Mike Pence, who will preside over the session, to block certification of the result.
Under heavy guard, US Congress back to work after Trump supporters storm Capitol
Violent protesters, loyal to President Donald Trump, storm the Capitol, on Jan 6. AP
Hundreds of US President Donald Trump s supporters stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday in a stunning bid to overturn his election defeat, battling police in the hallways and delaying the certification of Democratic President-elect Joe Biden s victory for hours.
In the gravest assault on the symbol of American democracy in more than 200 years, rioters forced their way past metal security barricades, broke windows and scaled walls to fight their way into the Capitol.
Police said four people died during the chaos one from gunshot wounds and three from medical emergencies and 52 people were arrested.
4:40 p.m.
President Donald Trump, in a video message, is urging supporters to “go home” but is also keeping up false attacks about the presidential election.
The video was issued more than two hours after protesters began storming the Capitol on Wednesday as lawmakers convened for an extraordinary joint session to confirm the Electoral College results and President-elect Joe Biden s victory.
Trump opened his video, saying, “I know your pain. I know your hurt. But you have to go home now.”
He also went on to call the supporters “very special.” He also said, “we can’t play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So go home. We love you. You’re very special.”
McConnell: If we overrule voters, it would damage our republic forever
From CNN s Aditi Sangal CNN
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in his remarks during the Senate debate on Arizona s electoral results said failing to certifying the results would damage our republic forever. The Constitution gives us here in Congress a limited role. We cannot simply declare ourselves a national board of elections on steroids. Voters, courts, states have all spoken. They ve all spoken. If we overrule them it would damage our republic forever, he said Wednesday.
WATCH:
Police are evacuating the House Cannon office building and James Madison building on Capitol Hill