Trump denies responsibility for Jan. 6 riot.
Former President Donald Trump has denied his role in the violent riot at the U.S. Capitol. The riot endangered the life of former Vice President Mike Pence and other lawmakers. Trump made the remarks during a CNN Republican Presidential town hall on Wednesday. He clashed with moderator Kaitlan Collins over his role in the insurrection.
Trump says he does not owe Pence an apology.
Trump said he did not owe Pence an apology for pressuring him to overturn the election results. Pence presided over the formal certification of President Joe Biden’s victory. Trump claimed Pence had the authority to send the votes back to the state legislatures. Legal experts and Pence himself have rejected this claim.
“I don’t think he was in any danger,” Trump said of Pence. Pence was evacuated from the Senate chamber as some rioters chanted “hang Mike Pence” outside the Capitol. “He made a mistake. He should’ve put the votes back to the state legislatures and I think we would’ve had a different outcome. I really do.”
Collins challenges Trump’s false claims.
Collins challenged Trump’s false claims about the election and his authority over Pence. She cited the Electoral Count Act of 1887 and Republican legal experts. She also pointed out that Wisconsin election officials never said the election was “rigged,” as Trump alleged.
Trump dismissed Collins’ arguments and accused Pence’s lawyers of being “wrong” and “RINOs” (Republicans in name only). He also suggested that he was joking when he asked Pence to overturn the election, saying, “let’s keep it interesting, right?”
Pence criticizes Trump for his role in Jan. 6 riot.
Pence, who has not announced his plans for 2024, has repeatedly criticized Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 riot. He said he “endangered” his family and everyone at the Capitol that day. In March, Pence said that he and Trump may never “see eye to eye” on what happened on Jan. 6.
The House committee investigating the attack said in its final report that “the President of the United States had riled up a mob that hunted his own Vice President.” The report also revealed that Trump did not call Pence during or after the riot to check his safety.
Trump’s comments widen the rift between Pence and other Republicans.
Trump’s comments at the town hall will likely widen the rift between him and Pence and other Republicans who have blamed him for inciting violence and undermining democracy. Trump has already declared his candidacy for 2024, while Pence has been laying the groundwork to run.