WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said a joint session of Congress will reconvene Wednesday night to count the Electoral College votes confirming President-elect Joe Biden's win after rioters rushed the U.S. Capitol and brought proceedings to a standstill earlier in the day.
In a letter to House members, Pelosi called the violence from supporters of President Donald Trump at the Capitol "a shameful assault" on American democracy that was "anointed at the highest level of government."
"It cannot, however, deter us from our responsibility to validate the election of Joe Biden," she said, adding that she's consulted with House Democratic leaders, the Justice Department and Vice President Mike Pence. "We have decided we should proceed tonight at the Capitol once it is cleared for use."
"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."
David Popp, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, confirmed that the Senate would reconvene at 8 p.m. to restart the Electoral College count. House leaders did not specify when they would return to the chamber, but it's likely to be at the same time.
Vice President Mike Pence – who had been moved to a secure location during the riot – is back in the Senate and ready to resume the process, Spokesman Devin O'Malley said.
"He never left the Capitol," said O'Malley. He said Pence was in contact with House and Senate leaders, along with law enforcement officials, throughout the day to secure the Capitol and get the count back on track.
More:President-elect Joe Biden calls Capitol riot ‘insurrection,’ urges President Trump to ‘end siege’
The U.S. Capitol has been secured, according to lawmakers.
But one key unresolved question is whether the Republicans who were in the midst of objecting to the Electoral College count – dragging out the process -- would drop their plans or persist.
Several of the objectors – including Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Josh Hawley of Missouri – were spotted meeting separately from other senators who had been moved to the undisclosed location.
Asked if there was any resolution on how to move forward, GOP Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana responded “not yet,” according to pooled reports from a journalist on the Hill.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., predicted that his Republican colleagues would truncate their objections. When the rioters breached the Capitol, lawmakers were in the middle of debating an objection to Arizona's vote count. Hawley and others signaled they were going to object to at least two additional states; each objection to a state's count triggers a two-hour debate and a vote.
"I think it's all going to be condensed," Paul told reporters. "There's gonna be probably 30 or 40 more minutes of debate, and one vote."
In the House, at least one Republican said she would drop her objections after the attack on the Capitol.
"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," said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash. “What happened today and continues to unfold in the nation’s capital is disgraceful and un-American.”
Pelosi advised House members and staff to remain on the Capitol complex until they are notified by the United States Capitol Police. She said further guidance will be provided later.
Lawmakers earlier said they're prepared to meet again as soon as the Capitol is cleared. A citywide curfew went into effect in Washington, D.C., at 6 p.m ET. Officers from multiple law enforcement agencies are outside on the Capitol complex, but only 13 arrests have been made.
"We have stopped the coup attempt and will be returning to the Capitol today to finish the business of the people," Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., posted on Twitter late Wednesday afternoon.
Federal law requires a joint session of Congress meet on Jan. 6 at 1 p.m. after every presidential election to count the Electoral College votes submitted by states. But the law does not contemplate a delay in proceedings. Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be sworn in on Jan. 20.
Even before the violence at the capitol building, the session was shaping up to be a marathon with Republican lawmakers objecting to electoral votes from perhaps six or more states.
The federal law outlining the Electoral College counting proceedings does not say Congress has to meet inside their regular chambers.
According to lawmakers, the U.S. Capitol has been secured and lawmakers are gathered in an undisclosed location.
"House Sergeant at Arms just informed us that the Capitol has been cleared," reported Matt Fuller, a Huffington Post journalist who is in an undisclosed place with more than 100 lawmakers and staff. "We’ve been sheltering in place for about two hours here," he said, receiving intermittent updates about the breach.
Staff reporter Deirdre Shesgreen contributed to this report. Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.
