washington u.s. congress friday certify electoral college vote give republican donald trump victory contentious 2016 presidential election raucous half-hour joint session punctuate democratic challenge republican businessman whose presidential campaign first bid public office garner 304 electoral vote compare 227 democratic challenger hillary clinton accord vote tally read vice president joe biden electoral vote open joint session congress consider formality presidential elections members house representatives object electoral tally state include alabama florida michigan texas mississippi carolinas symbolic move expose linger dismay contentious election campaign members complain long line poll station others cite concern russian attempt influence result trump favor object people horrify overwhelm evidence russian interference election say representative barbara lee california overrule biden deny objections one one time jocular apparently determine finish tally say one point laughter republicans none representatives back senator would allow suspend joint session allow house senate meet separately debate objections although trump set take office jan. 20 electoral college vote determine victor clinton popular vote nearly million ballot election shadow concern russian hack democratic group form intervention campaign trump repeatedly downplay possible russian interference due receive u.s. intelligence report situation late friday tell new york time friday focus issue political witch hunt intelligence agencies conclude russian hack change vote tally house democratic leader nancy pelosi say concern russian interference cast pall 2016 vote people level dismay today vote ... electoral college pelosi say news conference much know foreign disruption election u.s. congress certify trump 's electoral college victory