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Donald Trump will become the first US president to be impeached twice.

Donald Trump will become the first US president to be impeached twice. Source: AAP

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LIVE: Donald Trump finally pledges an 'orderly transition' after Congress confirms Joe Biden's election win

Congress finally affirmed President-elect Joe Biden's victory at 3.40am local time, handing him 306 electoral votes.

Donald Trump will become the first US president to be impeached twice.

Donald Trump will become the first US president to be impeached twice. Source: AAP

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To quickly recap: after a day marred by violent protests from pro-Trump supporters, Joe Biden's presidential election victory has officially been certified by Congress. Donald Trump released a subsequent statement offering what's likely the closest thing we'll get to him commiting to an "orderly transition".

The next and final step of the presidential transition process will be the inauguration on 20 January.

On this day, Mr Biden and his vice president Kamala Harris will be sworn in and officially take office. 

You can keep up with the latest US news via the SBS News social media channels and website. You can also catch SBS World News at 6:30pm AEDT and listen to SBS Radio podcasts on demand.

'There will be an orderly transition': Trump issues statement on Biden's win
Donald Trump has issued a statement through a White House staffer after Joe Biden's election win was certified by Congress.

"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," the president said through his staffer Dan Scavino. "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!"

Congress certifies Joe Biden's presidential victory
US politicians have finally certified Joe Biden's presidential election victory.

Congress formally confirmed the 2020 election result at 3.40am Thursday morning local time, in what was the final administrative step before Mr Biden enters the White House.

Mr Biden is scheduled to be inaugurated as the 46th US President on 20 January.

House votes down Pennsylvania objection
As expected, the House of Representatives has joined the Senate in voting down the Pennsylvania objection, 282-138.

The joint session will now resume to consider the rest of the results. 

Deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger resigns after riots: reports
President Donald Trump's deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger has resigned in response to the president's reaction to a mob of his supporters breaching the US Capitol, CNN reported.

Mr Pottinger said there was very little for him to consider, a source told the network.

Mr Pottinger will be the latest in a slew of White House and Trump administration figures to resign. The growing list includes Stephanie Grisham, the First Lady's chief of staff, Press Secretary Sarah Matthews and White House social secretary Anna Cristina Niceta. 

FBI seeks to identify rioters
The FBI has asked the public to help identify individuals "actively instigating violence" at Washington DC.

The bureau has set up a page for people to submit tips and videos from today "depicting rioting and violence".

"If you have witnessed unlawful violent actions, we urge you to submit any information, photos, or videos that could be relevant at fbi.gov/USCapitol," the FBI says.

"Our goal is to preserve the public’s constitutional right to protest by protecting everyone from violence and other criminal activity."

 

Front page of major US newspapers
Here's a quick look at how some of America's biggest newspapers are covering the riots:

And while we're on the subject, Josh Hawley has been blasted in a newspaper editorial penned in his home-state of Missouri.

The scathing editorial was published on the home page of the Kansas City Star under the headline: “Assault on democracy: Sen. Josh Hawley has blood on his hands in Capitol coup attempt.”

The piece said that "no one other than President Donald Trump himself is more responsible" for the violence that took place, and accused his allies of "rushing to put a show of loyalty to the president above all else".

 

“Hawley’s actions in the last week had such impact that he deserves an impressive share of the blame for the blood that’s been shed,” the Star’s board wrote.

Senate rejects Pennsylvania objection
It's almost 1am in Washington DC, and the Senate's not wasting any time.

Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell immediately moved to end debate and vote on the objection, with senators rejecting it 92-7.

This effectively renders the Pennsylvania objection null and void, but the House of Representatives is still debating. 

Side-note:

Senate and House break to debate Pennsylvania objection
As expected, Senator Josh Hawley has joined with Republicans in the House in signing the objection to Pennsylvania's electoral votes.

This means the count stops and the joint session is put on hold.

The two chambers will now divide and debate the objection before voting on it - a process that could take up to two hours.

Where is Congress at?
As we speak, US Congress is busy proceeding through the states in alphabetical order.

The results from Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington DC, Florida and Georgia, Michigan and Nevada have all gone through without any formal objections.

There was a brief back-and-forth over Georgia when Representative Jody Hice rose from his seat and said, without evidence, that his GOP colleagues were objecting his state’s results “on the grounds that the election conducted on 3 November was faulty and fraudulent".

Vice President Mike Pence asked if the objection was in writing and signed by a member of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, as required under the process. It wasn't.

The big state to watch will be Pennsylvania, with Senator Josh Hawley expected to challenge its electoral votes. If this happens, then the session will break for debate.

House and Senate vote to reject Arizona challenge
The US House of Representatives and Senate have both rejected the objection to Arizona's electoral college results.

The House voted to accept Arizona's slate of electoral votes with 303 in favour, and 121 - all Republicans - opposed.

The Senate voted 93-6 in favour of rejecting Arizona's electors for Joe Biden.

Death toll from pro-Trump riots rises to four
Three more people have died in the Washington riots, according to Police Chief Robert Contee.

Chief Contee said those dead included a woman who was shot by police, and three others who died in “medical emergencies".

"There were three other deaths reported today from the area around the Capitol grounds," he said.

"Two adult females and one adult male appear to have suffered from separate medical emergencies, which resulted in their deaths."

At least 52 arrests had been made as of 9.30pm local time, including 26 on the grounds of the Capitol.

A total of 14 police officers were injured during the riots, including two who suffered serious injuries.

Chief Contee also confirmed two pipe bombs and a cooler of Molotov cocktails had been found near the US Capitol Building as the riots began.

Australia updates travel website over riots
Australia's SmartTraveller website has been updated to reflect the riots in America's capital.

"Due to violent protests in Washington DC, curfews are in place in the District of Columbia and Commonwealth of Virginia from 6pm on Wednesday 6 January to 6am on Thursday 7 January 2021," the site reads.

"You should avoid areas where protests are occurring due to the ongoing potential for violence."

The website issued similar warnings about protests following the 3 November election, and after the Black Lives Matter rallies in May. 

Public emergency order in Washington DC extended for 15 days
The mayor of Washington DC has extended a public emergency order for 15 days, meaning the measures will remain in place until after President-Elect Joe Biden's inauguration on 20 January.

In the order, Mayor Muriel Bowser wrote that many people had come to the area for the "purpose of engaging in violence and destruction and have engaged in violence and destruction".

"They have fired chemical irritants, bricks, bottles, and guns. They have breached the security of the Capitol and their destructive and riotous behaviour has the potential to spread beyond the Capitol."

The update comes hours after a city-wide curfew was implemented in a bid to quell unrest.

At least 30 people have been arrested for violating the curfew by remaining on the streets after it came into effect at 6pm, local time, according to the Associated Press.

Another 15 had been arrested in relation to the protests on an array of charges, including assault and weapon possession, the Metropolitan Police Department reportedly said.

Joe Biden is 'the legitimate president of the United States': Republican Senator
The US Senate has just voted to reject an objection to Arizona's Electoral College vote, 93 to six, as Republican Senator and Donald Trump ally Lindsey Graham made a passionate plea for his colleagues to clear the way for a new president.

"Trump and I have had a hell of a journey, I hate it being this way," he told Congress. "All I can say is count me out, enough is enough, I've tried to be helpful but when the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled four to three they did not violate the constitution of Wisconsin, I agree with the three but I accept the four.

"If Al Gore can accept five to four and he's not president, I can accept Wisconsin four to three."

Senator Graham said he didn't buy Trump campaign claims of widespread election fraud, detailing court rulings in Pennsylvania and Georgia that shut down attempts to have the election overturned.

"Joe Biden ... I prayed he would lose. He won, he's the legitimate president of the United States. I cannot convince people, certain groups, by my words but I will tell you by my actions. 

"Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are lawfully elected and will become the president and the vice president of the United States on 20 January."

When an objection is lodged in the joint session of Congress, the House and Senate split apart to consider it separately. The House will vote on the objection later tonight. 

 

Nancy Pelosi vows to 'stay as long as it takes' to certify election results
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has vowed to "stay as long as it takes" to finalise the results of the 20 November election, which would clear the way for Joe Biden to take power in just over two weeks.

"We must and we will show to the country, and indeed to the world, that we will not be diverted from our duty, that we will respect our responsibility to the constitution and to the American people," she said, after a joint session of Congress resumed after an attack on the Capitol forced proceedings to halt.

It is currently 10pm in Washington DC, with debates over the results expected to continue well into the night. 

US media identifies shooting victim as Air Force veteran
The woman shot and killed during a violent riot at the US Capitol was an Air Force veteran from San Diego, according to a local news station.

KUSI News identified the woman as Ashli Babbit after reportedly interviewing her husband.

Her husband reportedly told the broadcaster Ms Babbit was a strong supporter of President Donald Trump and a "great patriot".

The exact circumstances of her death are yet to be confirmed as investigations continue. 

White House staffers resign following Capitol riot
Stephanie Grisham, chief of staff to the First Lady, has resigned effective immediately after pro-Trump protesters stormed the Capitol.

"It has been an honour to serve the country in the White House," she tweeted. "I am very proud to have been part of [Melania Trump's] mission to help children everywhere, and proud of the many accomplishments of this administration."

Shortly afterwards, White House social secretary Anna Christina 'Rickie' Niceta also resigned from her role according to CNN.

CNN has reported several of President Donald Trump's top aides, including national security adviser Robert O'Brien, are also considering stepping down, citing unnamed sources familiar with the situation. 

Travel advice for the United States changed following riot
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced travel advice for the United States has changed due to the "potential for violence".  

The government's SmartTraveller website now urges Australians to avoid areas in the United States "where protests are occurring due to the ongoing potential for violence".

Mr Morrison described the riots as "terribly distressing".

 

'They can choose America': Barack Obama's message to Republican leaders
Former US President Barack Obama has set out his view of the choice facing Republican leaders.

"They can continue down this road and keep stoking the raging fires, or they can choose reality and take the first steps towards extinguishing the flames," he said in a statement. "They can choose America."

The former Democratic leader accused the Republican party and its "accompanying media ecosystem" of obfuscating the reality of the election, which he said "was not particularly close".

"Their fantasy narrative has spiralled further and further from reality, and it builds upon years of sown resentments. Now we're seeing the consequences, whipped up into a violent crescendo," he wrote.

"History will rightly remember today's violence at the Capitol, incited by a sitting president who has continued to baselessly lie about the outcome of a lawful election, as a moment of great dishonour and shame for our nation.

"But we'd be kidding ourselves if we treated it as a total surprise."

President-Elect Joe Biden won 306 electoral college votes to incumbent President Donald Trump's 232 in the 20 November election - almost the same margin Mr Trump won by in 2016.

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