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The highest ranking Republican in the United States Senate congratulated Democratic President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their electoral victories.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s move ends his long silence on the outcome of the presidential race.
Speaking in the Senate, McConnell recognized the victory of the Democrats in the White House after the formal result issued yesterday by the Electoral College.
In a nearly 10-minute speech that primarily praised Republican President Donald Trump’s tenure, McConnell closed by saying, “Today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden,” adding that “he has been in public service for many years.” . “
McConnell, saying he expected a “different outcome” in the November 3 election, also said: “All Americans can be proud that our nation has a female vice president elected for the first time.”
Since early November, McConnell has ignored pressure to acknowledge Biden’s victory, saying Trump had the right to file legal challenges to the election result.
He flatly refused to refer to Biden as president-elect.
Meanwhile, many of McConnell’s fellow Republicans have echoed Trump’s unsubstantiated claims that the presidential election was stolen by domestic and foreign forces, including through manipulation of electronic voting machines.
Over the past five weeks, some local election officials have expressed fear that Trump’s rhetoric and that of some of his supporters could result in violence.
Yesterday, the Electoral College confirmed results that were evident since November 7 that Trump had no way to win the election despite his repeated and unfounded claims of electoral fraud, which he reiterated yesterday.
Trump’s Twitter and verbal attacks, a wave of mostly unsuccessful trials and public rallies where he spoke of an illegal election result raised fears that American democracy could suffer if enough Americans believed the president’s accusations of fraud.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, in a speech after McConnell’s, urged Trump to “finish his term with a modicum of grace and dignity.”
“For the sake of our democracy, for the sake of the peaceful transition of power, you must stop the mischief, stop the misrepresentation, and acknowledge that Joe Biden will be our next president,” Schumer said.
While Mr. McConnell congratulated Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris, he did not mention whether he would work cooperatively with any of the new administration’s initiatives after he was sworn in on January 20.
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