Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell congratulated President -elect Joe Biden on Tuesday , dealing a blow to any lingering hopes Donald Trump may have had of reversing his election defeat.
“ The Electoral College has spoken ,” the powerful senator from Kentucky said in a speech on the Senate floor . “ So today I want to congratulate President -elect Joe Biden .”
McConnell also congratulated California Senator Kamala Harris on her election as Vice President .
“ Beyond our differences , all Americans can take pride that our nation has a female Vice President -elect for the first time , ” McConnell said .
Members of the Electoral College met around the country on Monday and delivered 306 votes to Biden and 232 to Trump , who has refused to concede the November 3 election and claimed falsely that it was marred by fraud .
Many leading Republicans lawmakers have refused so far to acknowledge Biden ’s win, but McConnell ’s remarks are a clear signal to the White House that further efforts to challenge the result are futile .
AFP