Pence congratulates Harris, offers full cooperation in transition of power
Outgoing US Vice President Mike Pence called his soon-to-be successor Kamala Harris on Thursday to congratulate her and offer his full cooperation in the transition of power, according to multiple media reports. However, there has been no communication between outgoing President Donald Trump and president-elect Joe Biden, which is unprecedented in recent memory.
First direct contact between the leaders since Vice Presidential debate
Thursday's call was the first time Pence and Harris had a one-to-one conversation since their Vice Presidential debate in October last year. It was also the first direct contact between the two leaders since the November 3 presidential election. The traditional in-person meeting between the outgoing President and the president-elect, and the outgoing Vice President and his successor has not happened.
Pence offered his belated assistance to Harris
Pence telephoned Harris to congratulate her and offer his belated assistance - filling a leadership role all but abdicated by President Trump, who is planning to fly out of the capital shortly before Biden is sworn in next week, The New York Times reported.
Trump will fly to Mar-a-Lago just before the inauguration
Meanwhile, in a rare departure from tradition, on January 6, Trump had announced that he will not attend Biden's inauguration. He will depart the White House for his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida just before the inauguration. Though Trump has still refused to concede to Biden, he promised that a "peaceful transition" of power would take place.
Pence to attend Biden and Harris's inauguration ceremony
However, Pence would be attending the inauguration, confirmed in-coming White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. "But beyond his plans to attend, which the president-elect certainly welcomes, I'm not aware of additional events he's attending," Psaki told reporters.
Trump was impeached for inciting Capitol Hill violence
To recall, Trump was impeached on Wednesday for inciting the Capitol Hill riot that stemmed from his unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud. The deadly insurrection at the Capitol on January 6 by Trump's supporters, who unsuccessfully tried to stop Congress from certifying Biden's win, resulted in the death of five people, including a police officer.
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