In a Washington that resembles a «war zone», as the US media report, the US Senate confirms the victory of Democrat Joe Biden in the presidential election, putting at least an institutional end to this last chapter of the most turbulent American elections, with analysts saying that this does not mean the end of the “trampling” for the country.
It was preceded by an hour-long interruption due to the violent invasion fans of the Republican outgoing president Donald Trump in Capitol, in a move to challenge the election results, during which the world saw unprecedented images of chaos and panic, with dozens of people dressed in robes and helmeted even in the building, the so-called symbol of American democracy, while outside, gallows and crosses were being erected.
Four hours that left a deep mark on America
The incidents were marked by deaths.
First a Trump supporter who was wounded inside the Capitol by a police officer's gunshot wound, ended up in hospital shortly afterwards, but in the following hours it was announced that three other protesters succumbed to their injuries after being taken to hospital.
But they were also characterised by the inconceivable inertia and lack of coordination, to a degree of suspicion, of the authorities and the security services.
The angry crowd that had gathered after Trump's call to protest the election results, met no particular resistance as they broke through one barrier after another, finally managing to enter the building, where they easily overcame all levels of security.
‘They broke windows by entering and ransacking offices and taking pictures like tourists while Senators were fleeing or locking themselves in offices for their safety. Even journalists had taken refuge under desks and tables. Slogans were written on the walls, furniture was broken, documents were lost from offices.
It took several hours before control of the building was finally regained.
So far, the number of injured, police and demonstrators has not been clarified.
When coordination finally took place, the Capitol was evacuated by the National Guard and the FBI and the protesters were removed.
The latest information is that 52 arrests for violating the curfew imposed since 6 p.m. in the American capital, but it has not yet been announced how many arrests have been made inside the building.
On the streets around the Capitol, the manhunt continues with police trying to push back thousands of protesters with reports of sporadic episodes at a distance from it.
Also found and two pipe bombs were defused, one near the Capitol and another outside the Republican Party offices in Washington, D.C., where a van with guns and Molotov cocktails was found and one arrest was made.
Η National Guard Washington, Virginia and Maryland have been deployed to restore order.
In the shadow of the riots it was announced that the extension of the state of emergency in Washington for 15 days.
In the next few hours the resignation of the Minister of Transport is expected and wife of Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell.
Series demonstrations and Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Georgia. In Georgia, an armed militia had even gathered outside the local government headquarters, resulting in the deployment of the National Guard.
The newly elected President Joe Biden from the very first moment asked Trump to make an immediate speech to the TV networks and ask the protesters to withdraw, stressing that «democracy is under attack».
The outgoing president via twitter asked his supporters to return home, but insisted that «they stole their victory».
«Everything that happened on Capitol Hill is unacceptable,» said Mike Pompeo.
The former presidents launched their arrows against Trump Obama, Bush and Clinton.
- And Facebook after Twitter blocked Trump's account for 24 hours
Pence: «You didn't win, violence never wins»
Vice President Mike Pence, in his speech when work resumed on Capitol Hill, expressed his sadness at the «black day» and condemned the «violent incidents».
«Even after the unprecedented violence and vandalism on this Capitol Hill, the elected representatives of the people of the United States are meeting again, on the same day, to defend the Constitution,» Pence said.
«You have not won, violence never wins.», the vice president added, addressing the protesters who stormed the iconic building during a rally in which they denounced the «theft» of the victory that Trump claims to have won in the election but was «snatched» from him.
Ο Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Senate Democratic caucus - will become speaker of the House after Jan. 20, after his party prevailed in crucial races for two seats in the Georgia - stressed for his part that «this temple of democracy has slipped away», spoke of «a tarnishing of our country that will not be easily washed away», the «final, horrible, indelible legacy of the 45th president of the United States», very «undoubtedly» the «worst» leader the country has ever had, he said.
«Make no mistake my friends, the events did not happen by chance,» Schumer continued. «The president bears much of the responsibility. This mob was largely the work of Trump (...) his responsibility, his everlasting shame.» «January 6 will go down in American history as one of the darkest days, the final warning to our country of the consequences» of a «demagogue» holding the presidency, he added.
But the outgoing president of the Senate Mitch McConnell condemned the invasion of the Capitol.
«We will not give in to lawlessness or intimidation. We are back in our seats, we will do our duty as the Constitution says, for our nation. And we will do it tonight,» he said.
«The USA and the Congress have faced far greater threats than the mob we saw today,» McConnell continued. The invaders «failed» to prevent Congress from doing its job, he ruled: «This failed mutiny underscores how critical is the task we have,» which is to sanction who is the «winner of the 2020 elections,» the president of the body added.
Η Senate of the United States overwhelmingly rejected an attempt by Trump allies to block the ratification of the result of the presidential election in Arizona, by 93 votes to 6.
The Senate resumed its session to ratify the result of the presidential elections.
At the same time, the House of Representatives.
Note that in Georgia, the Democrats also won the second seat for the US Senate in the runoff election, giving Joe Biden control of the body, and he already controls the House of Representatives.
