From Doina Chiacu
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A massive winter storm sweeping the United States will not prevent the U.S. Congress from meeting on Monday to officially confirm Republican Donald Trump’s nomination for president, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican, said on Sunday.
“The recount law requires this on January 6 at 1 p.m. — so whether we’re in a blizzard or not, we’re going to be in that hall making sure it gets done,” Johnson told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures ” “in the interview.
Johnson said he hoped for a full attendance despite the storm and encouraged lawmakers to stay in town.
Forecasts called for heavy snow and strong winds from the central lowlands to the mid-Atlantic states, the National Weather Service said. Severe weather warnings have been issued for the eastern half of the country, including blizzard warnings for parts of Kansas.
Accumulations of mixed snow and sleet are expected to be between three and seven inches (7 to 18 cm) in Washington, promising difficult commutes and possible school, government and business shutdowns.
Bad winter weather can wreak havoc in the Washington metropolitan area, which has had mild winters in past decades and was occasionally unprepared for snow or ice accumulation.
Members of the US Senate and House of Representatives returned to Washington on Friday after the winter break, and Republicans met with Johnson on Saturday to discuss legislative priorities. Republicans won control of both houses in the November elections.
Other leaders stressed that they are not considering a weather-related postponement.
“There are no changes to the schedule,” said Lauren Fine, communications director for House Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
The certification process, usually a formality, was reversed four years ago when Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol in an attempt to stop the transfer of power to Democrat Joe Biden, who won the 2020 election.
Trump continued to falsely claim that his defeat in 2020 was the result of widespread fraud. Biden and Democrats say they will respect the results of the 2024 election and proceed with certification.
