Thread by @digiphile

Hanging out at 11:35 ET on Capitol Hill, watching @VP preside over a Joint Session of Congress reconvene on @cspan to count votes, after the House joined the Senate in voting to reject an objection to Arizona’s electoral votes: c-span.org/video/?507663-…
Democracy back in action.

Objection by @mtgreenee was in writing, but did not have the signature of a Senator, so @VP read the US Code, & moved on.

She was heard, but did not gain support.

Gotta say, tonight might be one @Mike_Pence's finest moment.

Make good governance boring again!

Objections from Alabama Member to certification of the vote of Nevada.
It was in writing, but no US Senator joined in the effort
{applause}
The objection cannot be entertained, & on we go.

For those interested, the Office of the @FedRegister at @USNatArchives posts Certificates of Ascertainment and the Certificates of Vote online: archives.gov/electoral-coll… OFR will post the Electoral College results online after Congress finishes counting them.

Objection by a Member of Congress from Pennsylvania about the votes from Pennsylvania.
It's in writing & signed by a Senator -- @HawleyMO.
@VP says it complies with the law.
Clerk reporting objection.
2 Houses will withdraw to deliberate.
Hopes for bedtime, dashed.
{nukes tea}

The Senate turned around their vote relatively quickly.

I got myself a mug of "Breathe Easy" with honey.

Came back to hear @CongressmanGT say on the House Floor that "systemic voter fraud" was not proven.

I mean, exactly.

This objection is akin to concern-trolling America.

Constituents having concerns after being misled by lies by the President makes sense, @LloydSmuckerPA.

To rebuild trust in election integrity, tell PA constituents the truth, & help our government's security agencies debunk rumors & civic disinformation: cisa.gov/rumorcontrol

Great speech by @usairforce veteran @RepHoulahan, who talked about sowing unity rather than strife, referring back to struggles at Valley Forge, & grounded her argument against disenfranchising the Pennsylvania voters she represents by using a real person who'd be affected.

Said @RepConorLamb:
Invaders came here for the first time since 1812.
Desecrated this chamber.
For the most part, they walked in here free.
They walked out free.
Wasn't a person at home who didn't know why that was: The way they looked.

Now @SpeakerPelosi gaveling down disorder

A shouting match just broke out over stripping comments out of the record.

Devolved into calls for order and then finally.

"The Gentleman will clear the Chamber"- @SpeakerPelosi

Nothing demonstrates a lack of respect for the legitimacy of power than someone trying to defy it.

"Easy to make wild claims of election fraud on cable TV or Twitter, but claims aren't fact."-@RepMGS
There are consequences for misleading courts: Lawyers for the Trump campaign never argued widespread fraud or illegal voting, because those claims are false.
Just so

"Democracy held today"- @RepKinzinger, noting people with Confederate flags stormed the Capitol today.
"People have been lied to, by too many, for too long.
Here's the truth: Joe Biden won this election, this effort will fail, & everyone knows it."

"The Emperor has no clothes."

After @SpeakerPelosi called for a voice vote, & the no's had it - the House is now moving to a recorded vote on agreeing to the objection to the votes from Pennsylvania.

It's gonna fail, agai.

In about 12 minutes, back to the Joint Session.

Time for a bio break & fresh air.

Yep, that's a no from the House.
PA's 20 votes won't tip total past 270, but close.
The Clerk is calling the Senate back into joint session, with @VP presiding.
@LeaderHoyer just recognized Floor Director @Shuwanza Goff, who's headed to Biden White House: politico.com/story/2019/01/…

@VP @LeaderHoyer @Shuwanza Because the 2 houses have not sustained the objection, the certificates will be counted, says @VP.

On to Rhode Island.

No objections.

That's 268.

On to South Carolina.

And then South Dakota.

And now Tennessee.

Moving right along.

And there goes the votes of the great state of Texas, and now on to Utah.

As usual, certificate of the vote in that state is regular in form & authentic.

And now we get to Vermont.

3 votes for @JoeBiden for @POTUS & 3 for @KamalaHarris for @VP.

That's 271.

No objections to Virginia.

No objections to West Virginia.

298-229.

On to Wisconsin.

And here comes an objection comes from a Texas Congressman – but as he notes, Senator has withdrawn his objection.

"In that case, that objection cannot be entertained."-@VP

And now, Wyoming.

No objections.

Chair advises Members that certifications have been read, certificates now reported by tellers.

Sen. @amyklobuchar says it out loud: @JoeBiden & @KamalaHarris will be the @POTUS & @VP, according to the ballots.
{applause}

Final vote: 306-232

President-Elect @JoeBiden & VP-Elect @KamalaHarris will become @POTUS & @VP on January 20.
Chaplain now leading closing prayer, noting desecration of Capitol" & the "quagmire of dysfunction that threatens our democracy."
"We have been warned eternal vigilance is freedom's price"

Whew.

House adjourned until 1/11.

This took both longer than expected and shorter, given the withdrawal of objections, disrupted by an attack on American democracy incited by an unfit, autocratic President desperate to keep power.

Trump lit the match:

https://twitter.com/digiphile/status/1346865393189728258

The White House has issued a statement attributed to a @POTUS like in the olden days — emailed to reporters of record — who distributed the words to the American people: Trump “totally disagrees with the outcome” but “there will be an orderly transition”:

https://twitter.com/peterbakernyt/status/1347104797107879938?s=21

Or maybe I spoke to soon? A senior @WhiteHouse comms staffer — @Scavino45 — tweeted it out on this personal account, which @ddale8 picked up — not the White House account, website, or @PressSec.
Just a tweet. No way to run a government.

https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/1347104239781294082