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2021-01-07 14:44:44 UTC: UPDATE (See below the fold).
Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress:
Supporters of President Donald Trump breached the US Capitol on Wednesday while Congress was meeting to certify the Electoral College's votes for president and vice president.
The Capitol has been put on lockdown and the certification vote has been paused. Vice President Mike Pence was evacuated from the building. House and Senate leadership is safe and in undisclosed locations, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Congress' counting of electoral votes is typically little more than an afterthought. But this joint session was expected to be a contentious affair that would last late into the evening and possibly on Thursday. Some Republicans are objecting to the count and delaying the inevitable certification of President-elect Joe Biden's win.
Also at AlJazeera (In Pictures: Pro-trump mob storms US Capitol building) and c|net (Mob storms Capitol forcing halt of election vote count).
[2021-01-06 22:33:53 UTC; UPDATE] NOTE: This is a chaotic time.
The Electoral College votes are currently being confirmed and tallied. Runoff votes in Georgia are being tallied and the results may swing the balance of power in the US Senate. The Georgia secretary of state [has been] relocated from [State] Capitol for security reasons. Mitch McConnell goes off on Trump. Pro-Trump reporter gloats over access to fleeing Hill staffer's computer. And Trump hand-picks replacement for Atlanta's US attorney after surprise resignation.
Let's please try and keep the discussion civil.
Also, please be polite and share your popcorn!
[Updates Begin]:
(1) Fox News reports Biden's Electoral College victory certified -- hours after Capitol chaos:
The U.S. Congress early Thursday certified the Electoral College vote that gave Democrat Joe Biden his presidential victory -- after a day in Washington that was marred by pro-Trump protesters storming the U.S. Capitol.
Vice President Mike Pence, who had announced he would not overturn the will of voters, confirmed the Biden victory at 3:41 a.m. ET.
Lawmakers had returned to the chamber in an act of defiance, with some Republicans who initially vowed to challenge states' results due to voter fraud concerns announcing they'd instead vote to certify.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called the breach of the Capitol a "failed insurrection," adding that those who "tried to disrupt our democracy" had not succeeded.
(2) President Trump "Responds" via Staffer's Twitter Account after His Account was Suspended:
Statement by President Donald J. Trump on the Electoral Certification:
"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. I have always said we would continue our...
...fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. 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!"
(3) Facebook, Twitter lock Trump's account following video addressing Washington rioters:
- Twitter and Facebook on Wednesday said they would lock the account of President Donald Trump after he continued to make false claims about the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
- Facebook, YouTube and Twitter on Wednesday removed a video by President Donald Trump addressing Washington rioters.
- Meanwhile, calls are mounting for Twitter and Facebook to suspend Trump's accounts.
(4) The Associated Press has called the results for the Georgia Senate elections: both Democratic candidates defeated their GOP opponents:
With projected victories in the twin races of Warnock and Ossoff, President-elect Joe Biden will have the narrowest majority in the Senate, with both parties holding 50-50 seats apiece, allowing the tie-breaking vote to be cast by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
Also at The New York Times.
(Score: 2) by sjames on Thursday January 07 2021, @05:47AM (16 children)
The courts did hear it. Then when it came time to actually make an actionable claim under oath, Giuliani stated that he had none. At that point, there's nothing more to hear. Were you expecting the judges to serve tea and crumpets at that point or what?
When concerns were brought to election officials, video was reviewed and nothing found. Trump's people got TWO recounts in Ga, buth agreed with the original count. They demanded a signature audit, no problems found. They demanded a closer examination in Michigan (IIRC) and they actually found 2 fraudulent ballots (both were votes for Trump!).
The matter has been heard,re-heard, then heard again (and again and again).
Trump has had well more than his day in court and he lost.
What we're seeing now is a two year old laying on the floor and screaming because Mom and Dad said it's time to leave the toy store and a bunch of people who are old enough that they should know better siding with the toddler.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07 2021, @05:59AM (9 children)
The courts rejected most of the cases with either a standing argument, or saying the case was brought too early or too late.
At a minimum, SCOTUS should have heard the Texas case.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07 2021, @06:25AM (5 children)
Cute, that Trumper was really hoping the supreme court nominations were the final brick in their coup wall. Looks like Trump got played by everyone, the useful idiot king who would let corruption run free and take all the blame.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07 2021, @07:54AM (4 children)
What's the problem with hearing the case?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07 2021, @09:02AM (2 children)
Do your research and I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out ;-)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07 2021, @02:11PM (1 child)
Could you spend maybe a couple extra seconds and say something useful?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 10 2021, @08:02PM
Could you do more than troll discussions? No? Fuck off.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 10 2021, @12:11AM
You mean other than the fact the Supreme Court said that the U.S. Constitution doesn't let them?
(Score: 2) by sjames on Thursday January 07 2021, @07:02AM (1 child)
Sorry, no. There are time limits for a reason and courts have always frowned on cases where you allege that the defendant WILL wrong you but hasn't yet.
As for the Texas case, why in the world should they have heard it? Constitutionally, it's none of Texas' business how Georgia handles it's election. If Georgia wants to decide it based on which candidate wins 2 of 3 rounds of tiddlywinks, that's it's business (of course, if a resident of Ga wants to challenge that, the court might be receptive).
It's not uncommon for courts to reject cases where the plaintiff cannot win as a matter of law. For example, when the crazy dude claimed to be God and that David Copperfield usurped his divine powers to perform stage magic.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07 2021, @08:14AM
It's very interesting to see people make these arguments today. I seem to recall Texas previously had a disagreement with some of the other states about being told what to do inside their borders.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 08 2021, @06:23AM
Not really. That was the situation where that made *legal* sense, but certainly not *most* of the cases.
https://electioncases.osu.edu/2021/01/summary-of-post-election-cases/ [osu.edu]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07 2021, @08:12AM (5 children)
Citation please. I'd like to read about it. I must have missed that in the deluge of info and I can't find it when I search.
(Score: 2) by sjames on Thursday January 07 2021, @08:32AM (1 child)
Try this [latimes.com], and and this [nytimes.com].
But honestly, it was all over the news, including a suit alleging that republican observers were barred from observing where the attorney was forced to admit under oath that the number of Republicans observing the election was non-zero.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07 2021, @10:02AM
Yeah, bringing inaccurate charges that you are forced to admit are wrong is a really bad look. Lots of enjoyment watching judges bitch slap them though while they impotently sit on their hands.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07 2021, @12:00PM (1 child)
Read the damn court documents!
http://www.pacourts.us/courts/supreme-court/ [pacourts.us]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 07 2021, @02:19PM
More useful link: http://www.pacourts.us/news-and-statistics/cases-of-public-interest/election-2020 [pacourts.us]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 08 2021, @06:24AM
https://electioncases.osu.edu/2021/01/summary-of-post-election-cases/ [osu.edu]
And you're welcome.