Trump Pressured Pence Before Capitol Attack, New Book Claims
Former President Donald Trump allegedly branded his vice president, Mike Pence, a “wimp” during a heated phone call on January 6, 2021, only hours before rioters broke into the U.S. Capitol. Retribution, a book by ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl that will be out soon, makes the argument.
A portion that came out on Sunday said that the fight happened when Trump tried to block Pence from confirming Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 election. Pence’s own notes from the call are said to back up the exchange and show how he stood up to pressure.
Source: PBS News
Pence’s Notes Detail Tense Conversation With Trump
Karl’s book talks about Pence’s handwritten notes that show how Trump tried to humiliate him into not accepting the election results. Trump is said to have informed Pence, “If you do that, I made a big mistake five years ago.” People will remember you as a coward.
Pence said that both men had sworn “an oath to support and defend the Constitution,” and he said that genuine bravery meant following the law. His unwillingness to become involved in the certification procedure eventually became a key milestone in the Capitol riot.
The Phone Call Preceded the Capitol Siege
The conversation happened only hours before a group of Trump fans stormed the U.S. Capitol and chanted for Pence to be hanged. The incident stopped Congress from certifying for several hours and killed numerous persons, including police officers who eventually killed themselves.
People now perceive Trump’s comments as a clear illustration of how he pressured Pence to undermine the result. Prosecutors have said that the vice president’s notes are very important for figuring out what Trump wanted to do before the uprising.
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Prosecutors Considered Pence’s Notes Important Proof
Federal investigators looked into Pence’s notes as part of their investigation into Trump’s supposed efforts to change the results of the 2020 election. Trump was accused of trying to stop the certification, but his win in the 2024 election stopped the prosecution.
More than 1,500 people were either guilty of or accused of taking part in the attack on January 6. A Senate study from both parties said that the violence led to numerous deaths and long-term stress for police personnel.
Trump Pardoned Capitol Rioters After Returning to Office
Trump went back to the Oval Office after beating Kamala Harris in the 2024 election and either pardoned or shortened the sentences of everyone who was involved in the Capitol disturbance. The big move was widely criticized by political opponents and national security authorities.
A lot of commentators felt that the judgment weakened the rule of law and gave radicals more power. People were worried that Trump’s activities would lead to a decline in democracy in the U.S.
Bannon Predicts Trump Will Seek a Third Term
Days after former Trump strategist Steve Bannon said that Trump may win “a third term” in 2028, the Retribution extract came out. Bannon told The Economist that Americans should “get used” to the concept, even if the Constitution says it can’t happen.
He said there were “plans” that weren’t made public to get around the two-term restriction set by the 22nd Amendment. Bannon’s views were like those made by Trump and his supporters about giving the president more authority.
Concerns Grow Over Authoritarian Shift in U.S. Politics
Trump’s words and those of his supporters have brought up the question of how strong America’s democracy is again. Former officials in intelligence and national security have said that his second term represents a worrying move toward authoritarian rule.
Since leaving office, Pence has mostly stayed out of the public eye. One of the most important things he did in his political career was stand up for the Constitution on January 6.
