The last hurdle was cleared for the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden at 3:45 a.m. Thursday when Congress certified his 306-232 Electoral College victory.

In a statement tweeted by President Trump’s social media manager minutes later, Trump promised “an orderly transition on Jan. 20th.”

Congress reconvened at 8 p.m. Wednesday when multiple law enforcement agencies had cleared and secured the U.S. Capitol from a rioting mob that had breached the building earlier in the day.

Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford was in the middle of a speech objecting to certification of Arizona’s electoral votes when news reached the Senate Chamber of the riot inside the building.

Lankford was one of several Republicans in both houses who had announced intentions to object to certifying electoral votes in states where allegations of voter fraud had been raised.

However, Lankford’s and many other objections evaporated in the wake of the rioting, vandalism and violence.

Lankford acknowledged that in a speech on the Senate floor and then issued a joint statement with Sen. Steve Daines (R-Montana) condemning the actions of those who invaded the Capitol:

“The violent actions of these rioters severely damages efforts to restore confidence in our elections. We will continue our calls to examine election integrity through all legal and peaceful means.

“We now need the entire Congress to come together and vote to certify the election results. We must stand together as Americans. We must defend our Constitution and the rule of law”

The objection to the Arizona electoral votes failed in both the House and Senate once Congress reconvened.

Objections to electoral counts in Michigan and Nevada fizzled quickly when no Senators from those states signed on and the Georgia objection faced the same fate when senators withdrew their support following the assault on the Capitol.

Both Houses separated to debate for separate debates over the objection to Pennsylvania’s count While the Senate quickly voted to defeat the objection with no debate over the substance, the House debate grew lengthy and contentious before the objection ultimately was defeated there as well.

Ultimately, all electoral votes were certified and Biden’s election affirmed in less time than it likely would have taken had all the original objectors continued to pursue their arguments.

Constitutional scholar and Oklahoma City University School of Law Professor Andrew Spiropoulos told the Times and Free Press that if the rioters intended to encourage — or intimidate Congress into voting against certifying the election result, their lawless actions undermined their cause.

“They ended up with less support than they expected. Votes (in favor of not certifying) were lost,” he said. “Lawlessness and violence tends to do that. It turns good people away from your position.”

Vice President Mike Pence, who presided over the joint session and drew the ire of President Trump earlier in the day when he said he lacked constitutional authority to reject the electoral votes on his own accord, commended Congress on returning to session and completing its duty.

“For even in the wake of unprecedented violence and vandalism at this Capitol, the elected representatives of the people of the United States have assembled again on the very same day to support and defend the Constitution of the United States,” Pence said in calling the joint session back to order.

“So may Godbless the lost, the injured, and the heroes forged on this day.

“May God bless all who serve here and those who protect this place. And may God bless the United States of America.

“Let’s get back to work.”