Jan. 6 (UPI) — A joint meeting of Congress, led by Vice President Kamala Harris, certified Donald Trump‘s 2024 presidential election victory on Monday, four years after he stoked a riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Standing before the joint assembly, Harris, Trump’s Democratic opponent in the election, officially confirmed that Trump received 312 electoral college votes. She received 226.
After reading the results, Harris shook the hand of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and stepped down from the chair of the president of the U.S. Senate.
The certification process, marked with readings of each state’s election results, was without any disruption. Republicans applauded when the results from states Trump won were read. Democrats did the same when hearing the results from states Harris won.
The president-elect falsely claimed he won the election in 2020, leading to calls to block its certification. No calls are coming to block certification this time as Democrats have not objected to the result.
Law enforcement, including Capitol police, have taken precautions ahead of Monday’s gathering of Congress. The Capitol is heavily secured in preparation for what has typically been a ceremonial proceeding.
The certification began at 1 p.m. EST. It was completed in about 40 minutes.
The riot on Jan. 6, 2021, resulted in criminal charges for 1,265 people from all across the country, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. More than 450 people were charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding Capitol officers. About 140 police officers were assaulted.
More than 700 defendants pleaded guilty and 749 were sentenced.
Trump was also charged for his role in trying to stop the certification. He was indicted on four criminal counts for conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights.
The trial was met with long delays as Trump argued he has presidential immunity. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that presidents have a presumption of immunity. Smith is bringing Trump’s prosecution to an end and resigning ahead of his Inauguration Day.
Trump has vowed to pardon Jan. 6 rioters on his first day in office. He will be inaugurated on Jan. 20.
Some of the Capitol police gave key testimony to the Congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack. In a story published by The Washington Post on Saturday, former Capitol police Sgt. Anquilino Gonell called Trump’s plan to pardon rioters a “betrayal.”
Along with heightened security, the U.S. Capitol is in the path of a storm system that is forecasted to bring up to 10 inches of snow. The House speaker said the certification would go on regardless of the weather conditions.
