And, the joint session is beginning...again. Timing of the next few hours depend on whether a senator will join a House member in objecting to election results.
We're on Georgia. If a senator objects, both chambers will go into debate for two hours again before a vote on the objections.
Applause on the floor as it is announced that senators have withdrawn their objections to the Georgia results, meaning objection cannot be entertained.
Senator Hawley is still expected to object to the Pennsylvania results, even though the GOP senator from PA, Pat Toomey, has vehemently opposed this decision.
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This is scary. Pence has left the Capitol, presumably for security reasons. A Capitol police officer just called on the press gallery to lock the doors.
Police in chamber. We have been locked in.
Senators/reporters have been evacuated. Extremely heavy police presence.
I'm in the House chamber as lawmakers gather to count EC votes. Remember, they're not "certifying" votes - the results have already been certified by the states. If a House member and a senator object to results, the chambers will go into debate - and the objection will fail.
Republicans are not following social distancing guidelines set for conduct in the chamber. Many of them are supposed to be sitting in the galleries to promote social distancing - Democratic members are following the rules, many are in the galleries.
Republicans gave a standing ovation when lawmakers Paul Gosar - wearing an American flag mask - and Ted Cruz objected to the results from Arizona. Democrats in the galleries jeered.
Mike Lee, who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month, is *not* wearing a mask as he gives his opening statement.
Lee declined to tell reporters this morning whether he tested negative for the virus today. He has said he's been cleared by his doctor.
Excuse the reflection of my colleague @MelissaQuinn97 's water bottle and laptop - but it does not look like Mike Lee is sitting six feet away from John Cornyn.
Good morning! Judiciary Committee Chair Lindsey Graham just began day one of today's hearings to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. @MelissaQuinn97 and I will be following the hearing and providing updates here: cbsnews.com/live-updates/a…
Barrett, with her family sitting behind her. WH Counsel Pat Cipollone is on the right.
Graham, making the case that Barrett is well qualified: "Is she as qualified as Sotomayor and Kagan? I think so."
Graham does not mention whether Garland was qualified.
"I don't understand why you're asking me as a public health official who should get arrested or not," Fauci says as Jim Jordan continues to press him on whether protesters should be arrested.
When Jordan continued after his time, Fauci did the universal New York hand gesture of "you know what? whatever."