A new audio recording has emerged online in which former President Donald Trump appears to defend the death threats made against then-Vice President Mike Pence during the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Fueled by Trump’s big lie about the 2020 election results, a MAGA mob stormed the US Capitol on January 6 in an attempt to stop Congress’ certification of Joe Biden’s victory, chanting “hang Mike Pence,” who was at the Capitol that day presiding over the Senate’s counting of the votes.
Trump suggested his supporters were justified in threatening Pence.
“Well, the people were very angry, because common sense, Jon, it’s common sense that you’re supposed to protect… how can you… if you know a vote is fraudulent, right, how can you pass on a fraudulent vote to Congress?” Trump told ABC News’ Jonathan Karl in a new audio recording released Wednesday.
Trump also said he was not worried about Pence during the Capitol attack.
“No, I thought he was well protected. And I had heard that he was in good shape. No. Because I had heard he was in very good shape,” he said when asked about Pence’s safety.
In the days leading to January 6, Trump tried pressuring Pence to block the certification of the election, but Pence informed him that he had no such authority to do so, several news outlets reported at the time.
Listen to the audio below:
When I interviewed Trump for "Betrayal" and asked him about his supporters chanting "Hang Mike Pence", he didn't condemn them, he defended them. Here's a clip from the interview. More audio from the genuinely shocking interview will air Sunday on @ThisWeekABC pic.twitter.com/MlnhTgw8Cu
— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) November 12, 2021
