Shortly after hundreds of Capitol rebels chanted “Hang on Mike Pence!” On January 6, 2021, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows left the dining room outside the Oval Office, entered his own office, and told his colleagues that President Donald J. Trump complains that the vice president has been taken to safety.
According to a report submitted to the House of Representatives committee of inquiry on January 6, Mr. Meadows then told colleagues that Mr Trump had said something in the sense that perhaps Mr Pence should be hanged.
It is not clear what tone Trump used. But the report was further evidence of how serious the rift between the president and his vice president has become, and how Mr Trump has not only failed to repel the rebels, but seems to identify with their sentiment towards Mr Pence. – whom he unsuccessfully pressured to block the certification of the results of the Electoral College that day – as a reflection of his own disappointment that he was unable to reverse his loss.
Mr Trump’s commentary on the comment was originally provided to the House of Representatives committee by at least one witness, according to two people familiar with their work, as the committee develops a timetable for what the president did during the uprising.
Another witness, Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to Mr Meadows who was present in his office when he recounted Mr Trump’s remarks, was asked by the committee about the bill and confirmed it, according to people familiar with the committee’s work. It was not immediately clear how detailed information Ms. Hutchinson had provided. She collaborated with the commission in three separate interviews after receiving a summons.
Mr Meadows’ lawyer said he had “every reason to believe” that the account of what Mr Meadows had said was “untrue”.
Taylor Budovic, a spokesman for Mr Trump, criticized the commission’s work. “The vague leaks of this guerrilla committee, the anonymous testimonies and the desire to change the evidence prove that this is just a continuation of the Democrats’ slanderous campaign, which has been repeatedly exposed as fabricated and dishonest,” he said. “Americans are tired of democratic lies and charades, but unfortunately that is the only thing they can offer.
Mr Budovic did not consider the content of the information provided to the committee.
Ms Hutchinson’s lawyer did not respond to a statement requesting comment. A spokesman for the commission declined to comment.
Mr Pence has resisted weeks of pressure from Mr Trump and some of his allies to use their ceremonial role in overseeing Congressional certification of electoral votes on Jan. 6 to block or delay the victory of Joseph R. Biden. junior. Although Mr. Pence and his advisers told him they did not believe the vice president had that power, Mr. Trump continued to put pressure, both privately and publicly, this morning.
Mr Trump condemned Mr Pence’s reluctance to agree to the effort during his rally in Ellipse just before the Capitol Electoral College’s certification began.
“We want to be so respectful to everyone,” Mr Trump said in a sharp speech in which he attacked various people and institutions for not cooperating with his wishes. “And we will have to fight much harder. And Mike Pence will have to do it for us, and if he doesn’t, it will be a sad day for our country. Because you have sworn to abide by our constitution. “
Shortly afterwards, Mr Trump’s supporters marched on the Capitol to encourage him. Some chanted “Hang Mike Pence!” as a gallows was placed in front of the Capitol building. Mr Pence, who arrived earlier in the Capitol, was taken to a safe place in an underground garage as the top leadership of the two-party congress was evacuated.
Mr. Trump, watching television during the uprising, spoke in approval of these chants as he discussed them with Mr. Meadows and possibly other aides, according to testimony heard by the committee.
Mr Trump expressed his displeasure with Mr Pence not only to his aides but also to the public when he tweeted at 2:24 p.m. as rebels stormed the building, saying “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what needed to be done do to protect our country and our constitution. “
The panel is trying to develop a report outlining Mr Trump’s efforts to stay in office, including how he provoked anger at the loss of his supporters and redirected it to Mr Pence and members of Congress during it. which is usually a routine certification process.
The commission also gathered evidence that Mr Meadows used the fireplace in his office to burn documents, according to two people familiar with the panel’s issues. The commission questioned witnesses about how Mr Meadows handled documents and records after the election.
The news came after one of the five Republican members of Congress who received summonses to appear before the committee signaled that he would not testify on Friday unless the committee provided him with extensive documents.
Representative Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican who is set to become chairman of the Judiciary if his party takes control of the House of Representatives next year, asked to be provided with “any documents, videos or other materials in the possession of the elected Commission ”to be used in his interrogations and all materials held by the Commission in which his name appears.
“Your attempt to force a colleague to testify on a legally prescribed legislative issue and important constitutional function is a dangerous escalation of the House of Representatives’ crackdown on political revenge,” Jordan wrote to Benny Thompson. the Mississippi Democrat, who is chairman of the committee.
A spokesman for the commission said the group had not received an immediate response from Mr Jordan.
The four other Republican congressmen summoned, including California’s Kevin McCarthy, the minority leader, all slandered the committee but did not rule out testifying. Two of their testimonies are scheduled for Thursday.
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