Extract from ABC News
Joe Biden has cleared the 270 electoral vote mark to formalise his presidential victory with California's 55 votes taking him over the threshold needed to win the race for the White House.
Key points:
- Mr Biden is expected to end up with 306 votes compared to Mr Trump's 232
- The votes will be sent to Washington to be tallied in joint session of Congress on January 6
- Interest in the electoral college vote was heightened this year as Mr Trump has yet to concede to election
The result came shortly before President Donald Trump tweeted that Attorney-General William Barr would leave his post on December 23 to "spend the holidays with his family".
The voting milestone came late on Monday local time when California's electors affirmed Mr Biden's massive 5-million-vote win in the state last month.
Mr Biden is expected to lead President Donald Trump with 306 votes to 232 once the process is complete.
The president-elect will give a speech once all the states have finished voting, when he is set to declare that "not even … an abuse of power" can stop a peaceful transition.
The electoral college vote is normally a procedural step in the presidential election, but its importance was heightened this year because Mr Trump is refusing to concede his election defeat.
The President and his allies have filed roughly 50 lawsuits, and most have been dropped or dismissed by judges, including twice by the US Supreme Court.
Several Republican leaders have now acknowledged Mr Biden's victory.
Indiana senator Mike Braun said the electoral college vote marked "a watershed moment where we must put aside politics and respect the constitutional process".
The electoral college results will be sent to Washington and tallied in a January 6 joint session of Congress, which will be presided over by Vice-President Mike Pence.
Barr to leave post
News of Mr Barr's resignation came shortly after he briefed the President about the Justice Department's review into the Trump campaign's allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 election.
In a letter to Mr Trump seen by Reuters, Mr Barr pledged the allegations "would continue to be pursued".
Mr Barr's fate in the waning days of the Trump administration had been in question since he said last week that a Justice Department investigation had found no sign of major fraud in the November election, contradicting Mr Trump's false claims.
Mr Trump's legal team had accused Mr Barr of failing to conduct a proper inquiry.
Deputy Attorney-General Jeff Rosen will become Acting Attorney-General.
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