Former Vice President Mike Pence has rejected claims by former President Donald Trump and others that the FBI incited the January 6 Capitol riot.
Pence was trapped inside the Capitol as rioters ransacked it, some chanting for hanging, but said there was no evidence the department was involved.
“We have seen the FBI director repeatedly assure the American people that the FBI was not the instigator of the insurrection that occurred on January 6,” Pence said on CNN's “State of the Union” on Sunday. Stated.
He added, “Frankly, I'm very grateful for the FBI's efforts to bring to justice the approximately 1,000 people who ransacked the Capitol and assaulted police officers to that day,” and held the perpetrators accountable. asked to do so.
During a recent rally in Sioux Center, Iowa, President Trump said“Antifa was there, the FBI was there. There were a lot of other people leading the charge.”
President Trump at another rally in the Hawkeye State described the people indicted As a “hostage” in a riot.
Biotech Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy explained The third anniversary of the riot was designated as “Trap Day.” He then unleashed a series of purported truths about January 6, 2021.
Top law enforcement officials, including FBI Director Christopher Wray, was vehemently denied The FBI was accused of orchestrating the riot.
While Pence condemned the violence of January 6, 2021, he also warned President Biden that he believes making too much noise about the riot will be a waste of the 2024 election.
“I understand why President Biden wants to focus his campaign three years ago. This administration's record has weakened America domestically,” Pence said.
“I don't believe the election will be decided on that tragic day three years ago. I believe it will be decided by the Biden administration's failed policies that emboldened enemies of freedom around the world and caused the worst inflation. [and] It created the worst crisis at the border in American history. ”
Biden marked the third anniversary of the Capitol riot with an impassioned speech near the Revolutionary War stronghold of Valley Forge, ominously warning of ongoing threats to democracy.
Pence also expressed optimism that the Republican primary process would “give the party a fresh start and new leadership in the election and beyond.”
He has so far declined to express support.
“I think very highly of Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and frankly Chris Christie is a longtime friend. And I don't really value endorsements,” Pence said. I left open the possibility of supporting someone in the future.
The former vice president did not mention Mr. Trump or Mr. Ramaswamy, with whom Mr. Pence has fiercely clashed in multiple Republican debates.
Relations between the former vice president and Mr. Trump soured after he refused to heed pressure from the 45th president and his allies to decertify the 2020 election.
Mr. Trump, who is considered to be the favorite to win this year's Republican nomination, appears to intend to choose someone other than Mr. Pence to be his deputy prime minister if he is to solidify a consensus within the party.
Mr. Pence recently embarked on a trip to Sderot, Israel, where he inspected the genocide inflicted on the Jewish state by Hamas.
“It was amazing to see the resilience of the people and families who lost loved ones as hostages. But their impatience is understandable,” Pence said of the trip.
The former vice president fought to win a Republican government in 2024, but resigned in October last year.
Iowa is scheduled to hold its first contest of the cycle with caucuses on January 15th.
