WASHINGTON — An unbowed Vice President Mike Pence declared “Let’s get back to work” as Congress reconvened to certify Joe Biden’s election win on Wednesday evening after a day of violence rocked the US Capitol.
“To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today, you did not win. Violence never wins. Freedom wins,” Pence said before the Senate just hours after pro-Trump supporters overpowered police and stormed Congress, leading to a tense armed standoff and the death of one woman.
“This is still the people’s house. And as we reconvene in this chamber, the world will against witness the resilience and strength of our democracy, for even in the wake of unprecedented violence and vandalism at this Capitol, the elected representatives of the United States have assembled again on the very same day to support and defend the Constitution of the United States,” Pence went on.
“So may God bless the lost, the injured, and the heroes forged on this day. May God bless all who serve here and those who protect this place. And may God bless the United States of America. Let’s get back to work,” he said to a standing ovation from lawmakers.
Determined lawmakers reconvened a joint session of Congress to confirm President-elect Joe Biden’s victory which was suddenly interrupted on Wednesday afternoon by demonstrators.
The chief law enforcement officer for the House of Representatives announced law enforcement had secured the building shortly after 5.30 p.m. after hours of violent clashes and looting inside the Capitol.
One woman was killed when she was shot by police while several explosive devices were found on the grounds of Congress and at the Republican National Committee headquarters.
The offices of lawmakers such as Pelosi were looted and vandalized while other protestors posed for photos inside the Senate and House of Representatives as outnumbered cops were powerless to stop them.
Tens of thousands of the president’s supporters flocked to Washington on Wednesday to hear Trump speak at a rally outside the White House where he delivered a fiery speech in which he claimed the election had been stolen from him.
“We will never concede,” Trump told the cheering crowd. “You don’t concede when there’s theft.”
All hell broke loose around 1:30 p.m. after the group marched to the Capitol and entered the building where hundreds of lawmakers — and Pence — were gathered inside to confirm Biden’s win.