Defense chief pledges peaceful transition of power to Biden

Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller today condemned the violence of a pro-Trump mob that invaded the Capitol yesterday and pledged the Pentagon's full cooperation in a peaceful transition of power to President-elect Biden.

"I strongly condemn these acts of violence against our democracy," Miller said. "I, and the people I lead in the Department of Defense, continue to perform our duties in accordance with our oath of office, and will execute the time-honored peaceful transition of power to President-elect Biden on January 20."

The Biden transition team, however, has criticized the Pentagon for failing to provide timely briefings. Miller has disputed this.

"Yesterday's violence at the Capitol was reprehensible and contrary to the tenets of the United States Constitution," Miller said today. "Our Republic may have been disrupted yesterday, but the resolve of our legislators to conduct the people's business did not waver. Due to their efforts, supported by local and federal law enforcement and the National Guard, the attempts of those who tried to stop our government from functioning failed."

Meanwhile, scores of lawmakers have called for Trump's removal, asserting he incited the mob.

Trump later tweeted a video in which he continued to repeat his baseless claim the election was "stolen” and called the mob "very special," but asked them to disperse. The video has been removed from Twitter and the president's account has been suspended. Trump has also been indefinitely banned from Facebook.