(CNN) Georgia's top elections official will certify the results of runoffs that will tip the power balance of the Senate to Democrats as soon as possible, he told CNN, but he would not commit to completing the task before Joe Biden is inaugurated as President on January 20.
"We will get that done as soon as we can," Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Thursday, noting he intends to wrap up by Inauguration Day. He cannot certify the results until counties do so, and only a few had done so by Friday.
In a wide-ranging interview, Raffensperger, a Republican, also called the insurrection a day earlier at the US Capitol "horrifying." The chaos, he said, was a consequence of two months of people misrepresenting the facts of the November presidential election -- including Biden's victory in Georgia -- and spreading disinformation on social media.
Some blame for that rests with President Donald Trump, said Raffensperger, who as recently as last week was personally lambasted by Trump for refusing to falsely say that the President won reelection in his state.
"I have said from Day One that we really have to (be) mindful of our speech, we can't spin people up and play people and get them into an emotional frenzy," he said.
Five people, including a US Capitol police officer, are dead after Trump supporters on Wednesday breached one of the most iconic American buildings, engulfing the nation's capital in chaos after the President urged them to disrupt the ceremonial counting of the electoral votes that confirmed Biden's win.
"It's one thing to have a peaceful, you know, nonviolent, you know, demonstration, or a parade to get your point across. But that, well, went way beyond it," Raffensperger said.
National leaders from both parties should condemn the violence, he said.
"Just imagine what our founders would say if they looked at that, you know, what they fought for. It wasn't so we could bludgeon each other. It was so that we could come together and have peaceful, respectful conversations on the halls of Congress, and that's where we worked out our differences," Raffensperger said.
Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress
A rioter holds a Trump flag inside the US Capitol near the Senate chamber on Wednesday, January 6.
Members of the DC National Guard stand outside the Capitol after the riots.
Law enforcement officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House chamber after the Capitol was breached.
A rioter hangs from a balcony in the Senate chamber.
Trump supporters cover their faces after tear gas was fired in front of the Capitol.
A Trump supporter
carries a Confederate battle flag in the Capitol Rotunda. During the Civil War, the closest any insurgent carrying a Confederate flag ever came to the Capitol was about 6 miles, during the Battle of Fort Stevens in 1864.
US Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat from Colorado, comforts US Rep. Susan Wild, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, while taking cover in the House chamber.
Papers and other materials litter the House chamber after it was evacuated.
Congressional staffers evacuate the Capitol.
Congressional staffers put up a barricade inside the Capitol after rioters breached the building.
One of
the most recognizable figures in the crowd was a man in his 30s with a painted face, fur hat and a helmet with horns. The protester, Jake Angeli — known by followers as the QAnon Shaman — quickly became a symbol of the bizarre and frightening spectacle. In recent months, Angeli has been a regular presence at pro-Trump protests in Arizona, including demonstrations outside the Maricopa County vote-counting center.
Tear gas is deployed as rioters gather outside the Capitol.
Capitol Police detain rioters outside of the House chamber.
Trump supporters storm the Capitol during clashes with police.
Members of Congress run for cover as rioters try to enter the House chamber.
Congressional staffers hold up their hands while Capitol Police SWAT teams secure the US Capitol.
Rioters walk through the Capitol after breaching barricades to the building.
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier outside the Capitol.
A rioter sits in the Senate chamber.
A crowd of Trump supporters can be seen from inside the Capitol.
A Capitol Police officer sprays a person who was trying to enter the Capitol.
US Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard and Annie Kuster take cover while rioters were in the Capitol.
Trump supporters climb a wall outside the Capitol.
A Trump supporter gestures to Capitol Police in the hallway outside of the Senate chamber.
People take shelter in the House chamber as rioters try to break in. House members were given gas masks that were under the seats, according to a pool reporter on the House floor.
Trump supporters walk through the Capitol's Statuary Hall.
People bring a ladder to help them break into the Capitol.
People evacuate the House chamber as rioters attempt to break in.
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier outside the Capitol. Shortly after 1 p.m., some pushed through barriers set up along the perimeter of the Capitol, where they tussled with officers in full riot gear.
Trump supporters gather outside the Capitol.
Capitol Police try to hold back people outside the east doors to the House side of the Capitol.
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier.
Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi officiate the joint session of Congress early on January 6. Congress was meeting to count and certify the Electoral College votes before the Capitol was breached.
Republicans applaud after US Rep. Paul Gosar, lower right, objected to certifying the Electoral College votes from Arizona.
The certification of Arizona's Electoral College votes is unsealed during the joint session of Congress.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blows a kiss to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as he and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell arrive for the joint session.
Congress begins its joint session.
Trump arrives to speak to his supporters at a rally on January 6. His speech included calls for his vice president to step outside his constitutional bounds and overturn the results of the election. "Hope Mike is going to do the right thing," Trump said at the rally. "If Mike Pence does the right thing, we win the election."
People rally near the White House in support of Trump.
Chamber assistants carry Electoral College ballot boxes at the Capitol.
Trump supporters participate in a rally near the White House.
Georgia's elections were fair, top official says
Raffensperger reiterated that Georgia's elections were fair. "The facts are on our side," he said. "We had fair, honest elections in Georgia."
Just because you don't like the result of an election, doesn't mean you go down the road of violence, he said.
"We work our differences out in the halls of our general assemblies, in the halls of Congress, but not out on the street bullying, shooting, beating up people. It's hoodlumism," he said.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger
Further, the violence at the Capitol has "negated (and) obscured" Trump's accomplishments, Raffensperger said.
"It's a shame that it I had to come to that. It's also a shame that many people political leaders, elected political leaders in the Republican Party, didn't have the courage to stand and say, Mr. President here's what the real numbers are, and I believe the real numbers," he added.
Trump hurt the Republican Party during the Georgia's Senate runoffs, he said, distracting the GOP candidates with falsehoods about the presidential race when they should have focused on their own campaigns.
Georgians on Tuesday elected Democrats Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock to the Senate, giving their party control of both chambers of Congress and the White House for the first time in a decade. It allows Biden potentially to enact sweeping legislation and push through Cabinet nominations without Republican support.
Voters wait at a polling location during Tuesday's Senate runoff elections in Atlanta.
Nation must begin healing, Raffensperger says
Raffensperger has gotten death threats since Trump lost Georgia. Asked by CNN if he still supports the President, he said the point is moot as Trump is on his way out. For his part, Raffensperger remains "a proud Republican," he said.
Despite discussions among officials in Washington about employing the 25th Amendment or impeachment to remove Trump from office in the coming days, Raffensperger said the President should be allowed to finish his term, then the US should move on and begin the process of healing.
Meantime, Georgia's Senate elections certification deadline is January 22, though Raffensperger plans to certify the results as soon as possible, he said.
"My heart may be broken as a Republican," he said, "but we have a job to do."
Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled Brad Raffensperger's last name. The article and headline also have been updated to make clear the timeline of certifying the Georgia runoff election.
CNN's Devon M. Sayers contributed to this report.