McConnell: 'They tried to disrupt our democracy. They failed.'

(Image credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

As the Senate reconvened Wednesday night to certify the Electoral College after President Trump's supporters earlier halted the proceedings by breaching the capitol, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) delivered remarks condemning the incident.

McConnell said Congress will certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory "by the book" and blasted Trump's supporters for exhibiting "criminal behavior." The "unhinged crowd," he said, "tried to disrupt our democracy. They failed."

Vice President Mike Pence, meanwhile, was the one to actually kick things off. He didn't directly address Trump in his comments, but he did call out his supporters. "To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today, you did not win," he said. "Violence never wins. Freedom wins. And this is still the people's house."

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also spoke before the debate got going again, arguing that Wednesday's events "will be a stain on our country not so easily removed." Read more at The Wall Street Journal.

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Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.