WASHINGTON. The attack on his former political boss was launched by former Vice President Mike Pence, who said that “History will hold Trump to account for the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.”

Speaking Saturday night at the annual Grindiron Club Dinner in Washington, Pence took a stern tone on Donald Trump, calling January 6 a “tragic day.” The former vice president said: “Trump was wrong. I had no right to cancel the election results, and his irresponsible statements threatened the safety of my family and everyone in the Capitol that day. I know history will hold Trump to account.”

In his speech, Pence criticized those who downplayed the violent intentions of the Congressional attackers by calling them tourists. “Tourists do not injure 140 policemen. Tourists do not break down doors to enter the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and do not threaten government officials, ”Pence said.

Objection to testimony

Pence’s speech came just days after the former vice president’s lawyers filed an objection to a request that he testify before a grand jury about the January 6 events. Pence said he would resist being subpoenaed, arguing that calling a former vice president to testify is unconstitutional and unprecedented.

“He will answer to history for the invasion of his followers on January 6, 2021,” the former US vice president says of the former president.

On January 6, Gary Cohn, former head of Trump’s economic advisers, agreed with Pence’s position. “It was a shocking day in the history of the country. We continue to live with its consequences. I agree with him,” Cohn told CNN.

During his Saturday appearance at the Greeniron Club, Pence repeatedly praised the media’s coverage of the January 6 events. The former vice president emphasized that he was able to fulfill his constitutional duties by supporting the 2020 election outcome “in part” through direct media coverage of the uprising.

“We were able to stay where we are, partly because you stayed where you are. Today, the American people know what happened because you didn’t stop broadcasting,” Pence said. Pence was on Capitol Hill at the time of the incursion of thousands of Trump supporters who were trying to block the ratification of the election results in favor of Biden. As President of the Senate, Pence presided over the meeting.

Messages

During the siege of the plenary hall, Trump sent out messages on Twitter calling for Republicans to “fight” and repeating his theory of mass fraud in favor of the Democrats. In other posts, Trump criticized Pence for his intention to ratify the Electoral College vote.

Some protesters chanted “Hang Mike Pence!” and a makeshift gallows was erected near the Capitol. Pence was escorted out of the underground garage by the Secret Service. Although Pence had previously avoided mentioning the events of January 6, the prospect of him running for the 2024 Republican nomination has been a game-changer and prompted the former vice president to take a critical stance on Trump and the invaders.