Extract from ABC News
US Congress has formally validated Joe Biden's presidential election victory on a day that saw a time-honoured ceremony become a nightmare of unprecedented political terror.
Key points:
- Mr Biden defeated Mr Trump by 306-232 electoral votes
- Mr Trump said there would be an "orderly transition", acknowledging defeat for the first time
- His response to the violence in Capitol Hill was criticised by members of his administration
The House and Senate certified the Democrat's electoral college win early on Thursday local time, after a violent throng of pro-Trump rioters spent hours running rampant through the Capitol.
Vice-President Mike Pence, in declaring the final vote totals behind Mr Biden's victory, said this "shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the persons elected president and vice-president of the United States".
After claiming he would "never concede" during a rally hours earlier, President Donald Trump admitted defeat in the November 3 election for the first time, following the vote count.
The outcome had never been in doubt, but had been interrupted by rioters who forced their way past metal security barricades, broke windows and scaled walls to fight their way into the Capitol building.
A woman was fatally shot, windows were bashed and the mob forced shaken members of Congress and aides to flee the building, shielded by Capitol Police.
The rampage began shortly after Mr Trump repeated his unfounded claims of election fraud to thousands of rallying demonstrators he'd invited to Washington.
Thirteen Republican senators and dozens of GOP representatives had planned to force debate and votes on perhaps six different states' votes.
The assault on the Capitol made some Republicans squeamish about trying to overturn Mr Biden's win, and challenges were lodged only against Arizona and Pennsylvania. Both efforts lost overwhelmingly.
Mr Biden defeated Mr Trump by 306-232 electoral votes and will be inaugurated January 20.
Mr Biden has announced Merrick Garland as his pick for attorney-general, saying the federal appeals court judge and three others he has selected for senior Justice Department positions will "restore the independence" of the agency and faith in the rule of law.
The four lawyers are to be introduced by Biden at an event on Thursday afternoon local time in Wilmington, Delaware.
Judge Garland held senior positions at the Justice Department decades ago, including as a supervisor of the prosecution of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
His nomination will force Senate Republicans to contend with someone they spurned four years ago — refusing even to hold hearings when former president Barack Obama nominated him for the Supreme Court.
Trump says there will be an 'orderly transition'
Mr Trump said there would be an "orderly transition on January 20th".
"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," Mr Trump said in a statement posted to Twitter by aides.
His personal account was locked by the social media company for posting messages that appeared to justify the assault on the seat of the nation's democracy.
He added: "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!"
Mr Trump on Wednesday had encouraged his supporters to march on the Capitol to protest politicians' actions, and later appeared to excuse the violent occupation of the Capitol by the mob.
Authorities said four people died during the violence.
"These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long," Mr Trump wrote in a message that was later deleted by Twitter. He added, "Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!"
In an earlier video, he had praised the protesters as "special" people and said he understood their pain.
Social media giants ban Trump posts
Twitter later locked his account for the first time as it demanded he remove the tweets and threatened "permanent suspension".
Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat followed suit.
Mr Trump's response to the violence underscored his long obsession with trying to overturn the results of the election.
He has spent the final days of his presidency angrily stewing and lashing out at Republicans for perceived disloyalty while refusing to acknowledge his loss or concede.
A White House official said most of Mr Trump's attention was consumed by his ire at Vice-President Mike Pence, who had announced he would not overturn the will of voters in the congressional electoral count.
Impending mass resignations
In a sign of growing frustration, a number of White House aides were discussing a potential mass resignation, according to people familiar with the conversation, although some harboured concerns about what Mr Trump might do in his final two weeks in office if they were not there to serve as guardrails when so few remain.
Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's chief of staff and a former White House press secretary, submitted her resignation, but declined to say what prompted her move.
Deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger, White House social secretary Rickie Niceta and deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews also resigned, according to officials.
More departures were expected in the coming days, as other aides indicated they were staying to help smooth the transition to Mr Biden's administration.
ABC/Wires
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