Former Vice-President Mike Pence offered his most forceful rebuke of Donald Trump on Saturday, saying history will hold the former president accountable for what happened at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
As vice president at the time, Pence’s role in the certification of Electoral College votes on Jan. 6 is largely meant to be ceremonial. But, Trump and his allies urged him to reject the 2020 results in Congress, which is not something the vice president has unilateral authority to do.
During the riot, Trump sent several tweets including one criticizing Pence for lacking the “courage” to overturn the election.
“President Trump was wrong,” Pence said at the Gridiron Dinner on Saturday, according to Reuters. “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 history will hold Donald Trump accountable.”
Pence also took a swipe at Fox News Host Tucker Carlson who aired misleading footage last week and downplayed the riot as “mostly peaceful chaos” while equated the insurrectionists to “sightseers.”
“What happened that day was a disgrace,” Pence said. “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.”
However, Pence, who is considering a run for the presidency in 2024, has refused to comply with a subpoena from Special Counsel Jack Smith seeking documents and testimony relating to Trump’s role in the riot.
“I’m going to fight the Biden DOJ’s subpoena for me to appear before the grand jury because I believe it’s unconstitutional, and it’s unprecedented,” Pence said.
