Mike Pence statement – Trump blasts VP who ‘didn’t have the courage’ to deny Biden win at chaotic Capitol certification
DONALD Trump has blasted Mike Pence who “didn’t have the courage” to deny Joe Biden’s win at a chaotic Capitol certification.
Pence wrote that he feels as though he does not have the “unilateral authority to decide which electoral votes should be counted.”
Read our US Politics live blog for the Georgia runoff results, Electoral College updates, and latest on the ‘Stop the Steal’ protests
“Some believe that as Vice President, I should be able to accept or reject electoral votes unilaterally,” Pence wrote.
“Others believe that electoral votes should never be challenged in a Joint Session of Congress,” he wrote, before confirming “I believe neither view is correct.”
“Four years ago, surrounded by my family, I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution, which ended with the words ‘So help me God’,” Pence concluded the letter.
“When the Joint Session of Congress convenes today, I will do my duty to see to it that we open the certificates of the Electors of the several states, we hear objections raised by Senators and Representatives, and we count the votes of the Electoral College for President and Vice President in a manner consistent with our Constitution, laws, and history.”
Following the news, Trump fumed on Twitter saying that his running mate “didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done.”
When arriving at Capitol Hill on Wednesday afternoon, Pence was heard on hot-mic asking: “Is my statement out?”
The vice president released his statement on Twitter, just minutes before speaking to Senators.
Since the statement was released, it has been confirmed that Pence is no longer speaking at the Republican National Convention meeting in Florida tomorrow, the Washington Post reported.
However, Pence’s office reportedly said that the trip was never official and that it is unclear when the joint session will end.
During the hearing, Congressman Paul Gosar and Senator Ted Cruz objected to the Electoral College submission of Arizona.
The objection was written in writing and signed by Cruz.
However, Trump aide Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell dismissed the president’s attempts to challenge Biden.
“We’re debating a step that has never been taken in American history – whether Congress should overrule the voters and overturn a presidential election,” he said.
“Nothing before us proves illegality anywhere near the massive scale – the massive scale that would have tipped the entire election.”
CAPITOL CHAOS
As Congress was in session, hundreds of Trump fans stormed the US Capitol building grounds, ripped down fences and fought police in shocking footage.
Video showed protesters running across the grass and toward the building after the fence was broken as some tried to occupy the building.
In one video shared by Elijah Schaffer, protesters were seen facing off with cops as they tried to access the building.
One cop appeared to be using a can of pepper spray in an attempt to move back demonstrators outside the Capitol.
Cops clad in riot gear pushed back against the protesters with their shields.
TRUMP CALLS ON PENCE
During a “Stop the Steal” event in Washington DC on Wednesday, outgoing President Trump again pushed Pence to “do the right thing” and fight Biden’s win.
“I hope Mike is gonna do the right thing,” Trump said. “I hope so, I hope so, because if Mike Pence does the right thing, we win the election.”
He later said: “Mike Pence has to agree to send it back.”
“These people are not going to take it any longer,” Trump said, speaking of crowds.
He mimicked comments from Rudy Giuliani just hours before, where he insisted that Pence could reject the states’ Electoral College results.
“Let’s have trial by combat,” he told supporters.
However, according to the 12th amendment of the Constitution, Pence will not be able to overturn the vote.
Most read in News
The law states that the vice president cannot judge who won a state’s electoral votes.
Trump has pressed Republican lawmakers to formally object at a joint session of Congress on Wednesday that is set to confirm Biden’s victory in the Electoral College.
The outgoing president’s attempts to overturn the election has split the Republican Party, with some backing him and others turning against him.