WASHINGTON – Former US Vice President Mike Pence supplied his most forceful rebuke thus far of his one-time boss Donald Trump on Saturday, saying that historical past will maintain him accountable for his position within the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol.
Pence was within the Capitol when 1000’s of Trump supporters breached the constructing in an try and cease Congress from certifying the outcomes of the 2020 presidential election, which Trump misplaced to Joe Biden.
As the vp has the constitutional position of Senate president, Pence was presiding over what had all the time been the ceremonial process of approving the votes of the Electoral College to pick out the president and vp.
Throughout the siege, Trump despatched a number of tweets, one calling on Republicans to “fight” and others making false claims of voter fraud. He additionally criticized Pence for certifying the outcomes.
“President Trump was wrong,” Pence advised assembled journalists and their visitors on the Gridiron dinner, an annual white-tie occasion in Washington, D.C.
“I had no right to overturn the election, and his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know that history will hold Donald Trump accountable.”
Pence, who’s contemplating a run for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election, was whisked to security by legislation enforcement in the course of the assault.
He not often addressed Jan. 6 within the months following the incident, however has since upped his criticism of the rioters and the habits of his former boss that day.
He has sharply criticized Trump’s conduct in current media interviews, and in a memoir launched in November, he accused Trump of endangering his household.
Still, Pence’s feedback on Saturday have been his most pointed thus far.
“What happened that day was a disgrace,” he mentioned. “And it mocks decency to portray it any other way. For as long as I live, I will never, ever diminish the injuries sustained, the lives lost, or the heroism of law enforcement on that tragic day.”
A spokesperson for Trump didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark exterior business hours.
Pence’s relationship with Trump has been complicated for the reason that two left workplace. He had criticized the previous president’s habits however shunned probably the most stinging rebukes of Trump. He additionally declined to cooperate with the House of Representatives committee investigating the Capitol assault, describing the work performed by the primarily Democratic physique as partisan.
The former vp’s feedback on Saturday point out he’s prepared to extra forcefully distance himself from Trump because the 2024 marketing campaign heats up — even when meaning alienating the tens of millions of Republican voters nonetheless loyal to the previous president.
His remarks got here simply days after conservative tv host Tucker Carlson aired safety footage of the Capitol assault, claiming that lots of the rioters have been “orderly.”
Carlson’s depiction of Jan. 6 was sharply criticized by Democrats and several other high-profile Republicans within the Senate, although many different Republicans — notably within the House — shrugged off the episode. —Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
