Former President Donald Trump reportedly showed indifference when he learned his Vice President, Mike Pence, was in danger during the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. After being told that Pence had to be evacuated for his safety following Trump’s critical tweet, Trump responded with just two words: “So what?”
This detail comes from a 165-page legal brief that federal prosecutors have filed in their case against Trump. The brief, recently unsealed by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, outlines the former president’s actions leading up to the Capitol attack. It highlights Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and his disregard for the consequences of his rhetoric.
Pressure on Pence
Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is leading the prosecution, revealed that Trump repeatedly pressured Pence to block the certification of electoral votes. Pence refused, insisting that he had no authority to change the outcome of the election. Despite this, Trump continued his efforts, culminating in a rally on January 6 where he urged supporters to march on the Capitol.
Minutes before his speech, Trump once again demanded Pence declare him the election winner. When Pence refused, Trump grew angry and added remarks to his speech that criticized his Vice President for not doing what he asked.
Capitol Attack
Trump’s tweet at 2:24 p.m. on January 6 claimed Pence lacked the “courage” to act. Immediately after, the situation at the Capitol escalated, and Pence had to be moved to a secure location as the mob came dangerously close to him.
The court filing shows that Trump’s actions and words helped fuel the anger of the mob. His supporters had gathered in Washington, D.C., following Trump’s false claims of election fraud, which had been repeated for weeks leading up to the attack.
False Claims and Misinformation
The brief also exposes how Trump’s legal team and allies fabricated numbers related to voter fraud. For example, in Arizona, they claimed that tens of thousands of non-citizens had voted, a figure they later admitted was made up. The narrative of widespread election fraud was used to inflame public sentiment and justify attempts to stop the certification of Biden’s win.
What’s Next?
Trump’s legal team has until mid-October to respond to the brief. The case is expected to play a major role in the run-up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election, with Trump already using his social media platforms to attack the prosecutors and claim political bias.
The legal battle over Trump’s actions on January 6 continues to unfold, but the newly revealed details further shed light on the former president’s indifference to the safety of his own Vice President and the rule of law.
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