In a firm statement on Friday, former Vice President Mike Pence expressed that participants in the January 6 Capitol attack who engaged in violence against law enforcement, defaced public property, or attempted to interfere with the certification of the 2020 election should not receive pardons from former President Trump. Additionally, he insisted that they “should never get a dime.”
During a conversation on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” host and comedian Bill Maher questioned Pence about the intentions of those who stormed the Capitol, including the group that infamously chanted for Pence to be hanged—a sentiment that, according to testimony provided to the House committee investigating the events, Trump reportedly did not disapprove of as the chaos unfolded.
Pence clarified his stance by stating, “I had no problem with the president pardoning people who got caught up in that day.”
However, he made a distinction, emphasizing, “But for anyone who assaulted a police officer, anybody who violated and vandalized the seat of our government and sought to disrupt the counting of electoral college votes, those people never should have been pardoned and they should never get a dime.”
On the first day of his subsequent term, Trump enacted sweeping pardons for individuals involved in the January 6 events, including those found guilty of assaults on police officers. Trump has justified these pardons by citing concerns over the treatment and prosecution of the defendants within the justice system.
The Trump administration recently abandoned plans for a $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund that was part of a settlement between Trump and the IRS in a $10 billion lawsuit over the leak of his tax returns.
The fund, which was designed to compensate those who believe they were unfairly targeted by the federal government during previous administrations, faced sharp criticism from lawmakers in both parties over concerns that the money would benefit Jan. 6 rioters.
Two law enforcement officials that were injured during the riots sued to block payouts from the fund, arguing that it could settle claims brought on by any Jan. 6 rioters who committed acts of violence.
Pence has been publicly critical of efforts to “rewrite” the history of what happened at the Capitol riot.
“I’ve certainly seen evidence of that, particularly, I was offended on the anniversary of January 6 when the White House put out a timeline that literally blamed Capitol Hill police for the riot that took place that day,” the former vice president said in an interview.