Washington: Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on Saturday made a last minute effort to challenge Donald Trump's presidency as she surprised everyone by trying to raise last-gasp objections against him during a joint session of the US Congress to formally put its seal of approval on the presidential elections.
The attempt by Ms Jayapal, a first-time Congresswoman who was elected from Seattle in the general elections, was shot down by an irked Vice President Joe Biden, who told her that it was all over.
Mr Biden was chairing the session of the Congress when lawmakers met to formally approve the electoral college victory of Mr Trump.
As the joint session of the Congress was in progress, Ms Jayapal in an unusual move and breaking the tradition stood up, making Mr Biden to ask "for what purpose does the gentlewoman rise?"
"There is no debate," Mr Biden said and reminded her of the rule book that he has not received any such objection in writing from her and also it was not signed by any Senator.
"Mr President, even as people waited hours in Georgia...," she said, as Mr Biden interrupted again by slamming the gavel.
"It is over," Mr Biden said as the house erupted in a laughter including the House Speaker Paul Ryan.
"One of my greatest worries about a Trump presidency is numbness. I am worried that the American people are constantly bombarded with shocking, racist, sexist remarks and tweets -- and that all the hatred Trump spews will slowly become the new normal," Ms Jayapal said.
The attempt by Ms Jayapal, a first-time Congresswoman who was elected from Seattle in the general elections, was shot down by an irked Vice President Joe Biden, who told her that it was all over.
Mr Biden was chairing the session of the Congress when lawmakers met to formally approve the electoral college victory of Mr Trump.
As the joint session of the Congress was in progress, Ms Jayapal in an unusual move and breaking the tradition stood up, making Mr Biden to ask "for what purpose does the gentlewoman rise?"
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"There is no debate," Mr Biden said and reminded her of the rule book that he has not received any such objection in writing from her and also it was not signed by any Senator.
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"Mr President, even as people waited hours in Georgia...," she said, as Mr Biden interrupted again by slamming the gavel.
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"It is over," Mr Biden said as the house erupted in a laughter including the House Speaker Paul Ryan.
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"One of my greatest worries about a Trump presidency is numbness. I am worried that the American people are constantly bombarded with shocking, racist, sexist remarks and tweets -- and that all the hatred Trump spews will slowly become the new normal," Ms Jayapal said.
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