MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Biden honored to have vice-president Pence attend the inauguration ceremony

Last week Pence defied Trump's call to overturn the election and instead fulfilled his duty to preside over Congress's acceptance of the Electoral College results.

US Vice-President Mike Pence will attend the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris, breaking ranks with President Donald Trump, who said that he wouldn't attend.

Pence plans to be at the Jan 20 event, according to members of his staff. Mr Trump, in the final tweet before his account was suspended by Twitter last Friday, said that he “will not be going to the Inauguration”.

Last week the Vice-President defied Trump's call to overturn the election and instead fulfilled his ceremonial duty to preside over Congress's acceptance of the Electoral College results.

During the proceedings, an angry mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol and overtook security, storming into the building and causing lawmakers and others to evacuate. Five people were killed in the melee, including a police officer.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned that Democrats would launch the process unless Mr Trump resigned or Mr Pence invoked the 25th Amendment, in which the Cabinet removes the president from office.

While Mr Pence has not spoken publicly on the subject, the New York Times reported last Thursday that he was against invoking the mechanism, never used before in US history.

Last Friday, Mr Biden, speaking to reporters, said that he agreed that Mr. Trump shouldn't attend the inauguration but Mr Pence was “welcome”, and that he'd be honored if the Vice-President were to attend.

“I think it’s important that as much as we can stick to what have been the historical precedents of how an administration changes should be maintained,” Mr Biden told reporters.

“We’d be honored to have him there, and to move forward in the transition.”