Congressional lawmakers will reconvene in the Capitol on Wednesday night to continue the business of debating and accepting Electoral College votes.
“In consultation with Leader Hoyer and Whip Clyburn and after calls to the Pentagon, the Justice Department and the Vice President, we have decided we should proceed tonight at the Capitol once it is cleared for use. Leader Hoyer will be sending out more guidance later today,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to lawmakers Wednesday night. “We always knew this responsibility would take us into the night. The night may still be long but we are hopeful for a shorter agenda, but our purpose will be accomplished.”
Lawmakers were held in an undisclosed location for hours after “stop the steal” protests against confirming Joe Biden as the winner of the Electoral College turned into a mob that breached the Capitol.
The Capitol building went on lockdown due to the individuals outside at around the time Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar raised objections to the Electoral College results from Arizona, the first state of at least three that were expected to be contested and debated for hours. Intruders invaded the Capitol building after the House and Senate had split up to debate the objection.
Sen. Josh Hawley, the first Republican senator who announced that he would object to certification of some Electoral College results, indicated after the breach on Wednesday that he believes Congress should reconvene.
“Thank you to the brave law enforcement officials who have put their lives on the line. The violence must end, those who attacked police and broke the law must be prosecuted, and Congress must get back to work and finish its job,” he said in a statement.
At least one House Republican who had planned to object to Electoral College counts from some states changed her mind after the breach.
“What we have seen today is unlawful and unacceptable. I have decided I will vote to uphold the Electoral College results and I encourage Donald Trump to condemn and put an end to this madness,” Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers said in a statement.
