The documents revealed that Pence made handwritten notes during a meeting with Trump on January 4th, in which Trump reportedly pressed him to use his authority as vice president to reverse the election results. Pence’s notes indicated that Trump told him, "You can either go down in history as a patriot, or you can go down in history as a p***y." This new evidence sheds light on the intense pressure Pence was under from Trump to interfere in the electoral process.
Furthermore, the unsealed documents also included a memo written by Pence’s former chief of staff, Marc Short, outlining the events of January 6th when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol. The memo detailed Pence’s efforts to certify the election results despite pressure from Trump and his supporters to overturn them. Short also described how Pence and his family were evacuated from the Senate chamber as the rioters breached the Capitol building.
The revelations in these documents provide insight into Trump’s alleged response when he learned that Pence was in danger during the January 6th insurrection. According to the documents, Trump was informed by Secret Service agents that Pence had been evacuated from the Senate chamber. Trump reportedly responded by tweeting that Pence lacked "courage" for not intervening to overturn the election results. This callous reaction from Trump further highlights the strained relationship between the former president and his vice president in the final days of the Trump administration.
The newly uncovered evidence also raises questions about Trump’s culpability in the events of January 6th and whether his actions may have incited the violence that occurred that day. The documents suggest that Trump’s relentless pressure on Pence to overturn the election results may have contributed to the intense emotions and actions of the rioters who stormed the Capitol. This potential link between Trump’s words and the violent actions of his supporters adds another layer to the ongoing investigations into the insurrection and the role of the former president in fomenting unrest.
In response to the unsealed documents, Pence’s spokesperson issued a statement reaffirming the former vice president’s commitment to upholding the Constitution and the rule of law. The statement emphasized that Pence fulfilled his duty on January 6th by certifying the election results in accordance with his constitutional responsibilities. Pence’s actions that day underscore his dedication to his role as vice president and his commitment to following the legal and constitutional process, despite the intense pressure he faced from Trump and his supporters.
Overall, the new evidence regarding Trump’s alleged response to Pence being in danger on January 6th provides further insight into the events leading up to and following the Capitol insurrection. The documents shed light on the intense pressure Pence was under from Trump to overturn the election results and the strained relationship between the two leaders in the final days of the Trump administration. As investigations into the insurrection continue, the revelations in these documents may have implications for holding accountable those responsible for the violence and chaos that unfolded on that fateful day.
