Congress ratified Joe Biden’s election victory after a day in which a mob of Trump supporters had stormed the Capitol. President Trump issued a statement saying that there would be an “orderly transition” on January 20. Subsequently, Biden forged ahead with his Justice picks.

After authorities regained control of the Capitol complex, Congress returned to work, holding two rounds of votes that culminated in affirmation of Biden’s win early Thursday.

Joe Biden was formally recognized by Congress as the next U.S. president early Thursday, ending two months of failed challenges by his predecessor, Donald Trump that exploded into violence at the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers met to ratify the election result.

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The Democratic president-elect’s victory was sealed after House and Senate members fended off a final round of objections to the November 3 election outcome raised by a handful of Republicans on Trump’s behalf. The proceedings were disrupted for several hours as pro-Trump demonstrators overran police lines, besieged the House chamber and entered the Senate chamber, sending lawmakers fleeing for safety.

Mike Pence defied Trump

Before the storming of the US Capitol complex by Trump supporters, US Vice-President Mike Pence had rejected pressure from President Donald Trump to refuse to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s election win, saying that he (Trump) does not have the authority anymore.

“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,” Pence had said in a statement prior to the joint session of Congress that finally certified Biden’s win.

Pence’s refusal to comply with Trump’s wishes was expected as he had conveyed his decision to the president in a meeting, that he does not have the constitutional authority to reject or overturn the election. But Trump, unable to accept the election outcome had persisted, openly called for his deputy to “come through”.

Merrick Garland introduced by Biden as his Attorney General pick

Joe Biden introduced his choice for U.S. attorney general, Merrick Garland, during an event in Wilmington, Delaware. Garland is currently a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Washington. But he is likely best known as a nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court who was refused even a hearing by Senate Republicans after President Barack Obama nominated him to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016.