Tag: Mike Pence

How the rioters who stormed the Capitol came dangerously close to Pence

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The violent mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 came perilously close to Vice President Pence, who was not evacuated from the Senate chamber for about 14 minutes after the Capitol Police reported an initial attempted breach of the complex — enough time for the marauders to rush inside the building and approach his location, according to law enforcement officials and video footage from that day.

Secret Service officers eventually spirited Pence to a room off the Senate floor with his wife and daughter after rioters began to pour into the Capitol, many loudly denouncing the vice president as a traitor as they marched through the first floor below the Senate chamber. 

About one minute after Pence was hustled out of the chamber, a group charged up the stairs to a second-floor landing, chasing a Capitol Police officer who drew them away from the Senate. Continue reading.

Pence Finally Concedes Biden Victory In Call To Harris

More than two months after President-elect Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election, nine days after a deadly attack by supporters of Donald Trump on the U.S. Capitol that claimed five lives, and two days after Trump became the first White House occupant in history to be impeached twice, Vice President Mike Pence finally called Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to congratulate her on her win.

The New York Times noted that Pence was “filling a leadership role all but abdicated by President Trump” when he called Harris Friday morning.

On Thursday, Pence, seemingly acting as de facto president, tweeted that he would oversee a peaceful inauguration and transition of power: “The American people can be confident that we’re going to ensure that we’ll have a safe Inauguration in a matter consistent with our history & traditions. We have confidence our Law Enforcement will protect our Capitol and the Great people of this Nation next week.” Trump has still not publicly acknowledged he lost the election on Nov. 3. Continue reading.

Pence’s relationship with Trump fractures in final days

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Vice President Pence spent four years positioning himself as the most loyal sidekick to President Trump, a man who prizes allegiance among aides but rarely returns it.

Pence stood by Trump through numerous controversies — the “Access Hollywood” tape, Charlottesville, Lafayette Square, impeachment and others — and at one point went viral for appearing to mimic Trump’s movements during a meeting at the Federal Emergency Management Agency when the president placed a water bottle on the floor.

But in the closing days of their time in office together, their relationship has fractured.  Continue reading.

Pence declares Biden winner of the presidential election after Congress finally counts electoral votes

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Vice President Pence declared Democrat Joe Biden the winner of the presidential election at the end of a violent and deadly day at the Capitol. Pence also announced that Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) had won the vice presidency, after the Senate and House rejected Trump loyalists’ challenges to Biden’s win in Pennsylvania and Congress finally counted the electoral votes.

Shortly thereafter, President Trump — who had defiantly told supporters at a rally that he would “never concede” — said in a statement that “there will be an orderly transition on January 20th.” Continue reading.

Trump delivers thinly-veiled threat to Mike Pence ahead of electoral vote count in Congress

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During his rally in Dalton, Ga., on Monday, Jan. 4, President Donald Trump delivered a thinly-veiled threat to Vice President Mike Pence ahead of Congress’ formal count of electoral votes.

Trump told his crowd of supporters that he hopes Pence “comes through” for themalthough the vice president’s role in overseeing the vote is procedural. The embattled president also insinuated that Pence would no longer be on his list of favorable people, according to The Daily Beast.

“I hope Mike Pence comes through for us,” Trump said to his crowd of supporters. “If he doesn’t come through, I won’t like him quite as much.” Continue reading.

Pence removed from Senate as protestors breach Capitol security

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Vice President Mike Pence was taken from the Senate chamber after protesters entered the Capitol to protest the results of President-elect Joe Biden‘s win.

The House and Senate gaveled out of their debates on the Electoral College results as footage showed protesters breaching security and entering the Capitol.

The doors of the House chamber were locked for safety purposes. A member of the Capitol Police confirmed protesters had entered the building. Continue reading.

Pence says he lacks authority to throw out Electoral College votes

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Vice President Mike Pence said on Wednesday that he lacked constitutional authority to follow President Trump’s wishes to throw out Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden. 

Why it matters: Trump has been pressuring Pence to overturn the election results as part of an ongoing attempt to subvert Biden’s clear win, which failed to garner evidence or support through various legal battles. Trump will view Pence’s statement as the ultimate act of betrayal.

What they’re saying: “It is my considered judgement that my oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not,” Pence wrote. Continue reading.

George Conway only needed 11 words to sum up Pence’s embrace of GOP scheme to overturn the election

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More Republicans embraced the scheme by far-right supporters of Donald Trump to ignore the results of the 2020 election.

Trump lost the Electoral College and popular vote to President-elect Joe Biden, but some Republicans have joined the president in refusing to accept the fact that voter reject the GOP presidential ticket.

On Saturday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and ten additional GOP senators received harsh criticism after announcing they would go along with the effort to reject the will of the voters. Continue reading.

Pence Welcomes Futile Bid by G.O.P. Lawmakers to Overturn Election

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Vice President Mike Pence signaled his support as 11 Republican senators and senators-elect said that they would vote to reject President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s victory.

WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence signaled support on Saturday for a futile Republican bid to overturn the election in Congress next week, after 11 Republican senators and senators-elect said that they would vote to reject President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s victory when the House and Senate meet to formally certify it.

The announcement by the senators — and Mr. Pence’s move to endorse it — reflected a groundswell among Republicans to defy the unambiguous results of the election and indulge President Trump’s attempts to remain in power with false claims of voting fraud.

Every state in the country has certified the election results after verifying their accuracy, many following postelection audits or hand counts. Judges across the country, and a Supreme Court with a conservative majority, have rejected nearly 60 attempts by Mr. Trump and his allies to challenge the results. Continue reading.

Vice President Pence receives COVID-19 vaccine live on television

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Vice President Mike Pence, second lady Karen Pence and Surgeon General Jerome Adams received Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine live on television Friday.

Why it matters: The vice president is the highest-ranking U.S. official to be vaccinated — a move intended to boost public confidence about the vaccine’s safety. He must still receive the second dose of the vaccine in order for it to be fully effective.

What they’re saying: “Karen and I wanted to step forward and take this vaccine to assure the American people that while we cut red tape, we cut no corners,” Pence said in a speech following his vaccination. “I didn’t feel a thing,” he added. Continue reading.