After rioters attacked the Capitol on Jan 6, they repeatedly chanted “Hang Mike Pence”- one that was approved and supported by the former President Donald Trump, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
The testimony is based on an incident that occurred in the White House. Mark Meadows, ex Chief of Staff, was in the dining room with Trump at some point during the attack. After leaving the room, he apparently went around and informed people of Trump’s positive views on the chant, according to what the House Panel has been told.
This incident was also confirmed by Meadows former aide, Cassidy Hutchinson after she was questioned about it. The three sources spoke on conditions of anonymity, with at least one of the witnesses providing accounts on the incident and two other briefing on the panel’s work.
When asked to comment, Trump’s spokesperson, Taylor Budowich went all out to blast the panel. He said, “This partisan committee’s vague ‘leaks,’ anonymous testimony, and willingness to alter evidence proves it’s just an extension of the Democrat smear campaign that has been exposed time and time again for being fabricated and dishonest. And he also added, “Americans are tired of the Democrat lies and the charades, but, sadly, it’s the only thing they have to offer.” Mind you, Americans are also sick and tired of hearing Trump’s “triumphs” and his and his allies’ parade of lies and denial.
A member of the Meadows legal team, who wants to remain anonymous, told POLITICO that the incident is “totally incorrect regarding Meadows.”
Meadows has refused to coordinate with the House panel, since he was subpoenaed back in September. Initially, he participated and provided the panel with thousands of private text messages, but then filed a suit against the panel and Verizon to block a subpoena for his phone records. Later in December, the panel referred Meadows to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution, however, they haven’t charged him yet with any crime.
It shows how upset Trump is with Pence, even though Pence strongly said in February at a Federalist Society event in Florida that he had no right to overturn the election. He said during the time, “President Trump is wrong. I had no right to overturn the election. The presidency belongs to the American people, and the American people alone. Frankly, there is almost no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American president.”
The panel has been doing the tedious tasks to gather all the minor details of Trump’s every account, comments, and actions on the day of the attack. There are no records of Trump speaking to Pence during the riot and their last call was at 11.20 am, where Trump pleaded with Pence to refuse Biden’s count, which Pence shot down. Then, Trump expressed his disappointment in an outrage at Pence during the riot in a tweet at 2.24 pm.
He tweeted, “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution.”
This tweet further instigated the crowd and the tweet came 10 minutes after the rioters broke into the Capitol and was posted 4 minutes before Pence arrived at the secure Capitol plaza location.