Vice President Kamala Harris will be presiding over certifying the presidential election results Monday, after losing election to President-elect Donald Trump.
In an exclusive video statement to MSNBC, Harris said the transfer of power was a “sacred obligation,” and noted she will be fulfilling her constitutional duty as vice president to ensure the peaceful transition of power.
“The peaceful transfer of power is one of the most fundamental principles of American democracy. As much as any other principle, it is what distinguishes our system of government from monarchy or tyranny,” Harris said. “Today at the United States Capitol, I will perform my constitutional duty as vice president of the United States, to certify the results of the 2024 election. This duty is a scared obligation, one I will uphold, guided by love of country, loyalty to our constitution, and my unwavering faith in the American people.”
Harris added it is up to Americans to “make sure” the government always puts the American people first.
“As we have seen, our democracy can be fragile, and it is up to then each one of us, to stand up for our most cherished principles and to make sure in America our government always remains of the people, by the people, and for the people. May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America,” Harris said.
According to Fox News, because of the events that unfolded on January 6, 2021, which resulted in the Capitol riot — Congressional security teams have been busy erecting 10-foot-high fencing around the Capitol complex, including extending the security measures around the outside of Russel Senate Park.
However, Capitol security personnel are not expecting any rallies, and despite 2021’s certification not taking place until 4 a.m. January 7, 2021, it is expected the entire process this time around, will be over within an hour or so.
The Washington Post published a letter to the American public from President Joe Biden Sunday, imploring Americans to not forget the events of January 6, according to a report from Reuters.
In the letter, Biden reportedly said Americans “cannot accept a repeat of what happened four years ago,” but noted he was expected the process to be a peaceful one this time.
“We cannot accept a repeat of what occurred four years ago,” Biden wrote in his letter.
Biden added there is an “effort” to “rewrite” and “erase” the events of January 6.
“An unrelenting effort has been underway to rewrite — even erase — the history of that day. To tell us we didn’t see what we all saw with our own eyes. In time, there will be Americans who didn’t witness the Jan. 6 riot firsthand but will learn about it from footage and testimony of that day, from what is written in history books and from the truth we pass on to our children. We cannot allow the truth to be lost,” Biden wrote.
