Former Vice President Mike Pence at a speech at the Reagan Library on Thursday said he was proud of how he and others handled the counting of the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6, which was interrupted when a pro-Trump mob invaded the Capitol, and that he did not have the constitutional authority to stop it.
“Now there are those in our party who believe that in my position as presiding officer over the joint session that I possess the authority to reject or return electoral votes certified by the states,” Pence said. “The Constitution provides the vice president with no such authority before the joint session of Congress.”
Some Republicans, including former President Trump, called for Pence to reject electoral votes on Jan. 6. And some of those marching on the Capitol chanted threats to Pence over his role in the count.
The truth, Pence said, is “there is almost no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American president.”
“And I will always be proud that we did our part on that tragic day to reconvene the Congress and fulfilled our duty under the Constitution.”
The mob that invaded the Capitol on Jan. 6 chanted “Death to Pence” and threatened other lawmakers who wanted to certify the presidency for Biden.
Former President Donald Trump has also criticized Pence.
Pence has been rejected by some in his party due to his stance on the issue, and was recently heckled during a speech at a conservative conference.
Pence recently said he talks to Trump but “doesn’t know” if the two will “ever see eye to eye” about the Capitol riot.