Trump vows ‘orderly’ transition after Congress affirms Biden’s win

Outgoing US President Donald Trump has promised an “orderly” transfer of power after a tumultuous 24 hours in Washington that saw rioters storm Congress and lawmakers finally confirm incoming president Joe Biden’s election victory. “Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th,” Trump said in a statement early Thursday as he continued to promote debunked claims of voter fraud. The message was issued via Trump’s social media director Dan Scavino as the president’s personal Twitter account was locked following the attack on the US Capitol by his loyalists on Wednesday.

“While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it’s only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again!” 
Trump said.

US lawmakers finally certified Biden’s election win in the early hours of Thursday, after the count in Congress of Electoral College votes passed the 270 mark.

The joint session of Congress had been abruptly halted hours earlier after rioters breached both chambers of the Capitol building, forcing lawmakers to flee and hunker down until the siege ended.

One woman was shot and killed during the assault, and police said three others died in separate medical emergencies.
- Washington (dpa), 
7 Jan, 2021