Former Vice President Mike Pence publicly disapproved of the conspiracy theories suggesting that the FBI played a role in orchestrating the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol. Pence, who withdrew his candidacy for the GOP presidential nomination last year, expressed his frustration at witnessing the events unfold that day. Despite his disapproval of the chaos, Pence maintained that he does not view the incident as an “insurrection” and sees no justification for removing former President Donald Trump’s name from state ballots.

In an interview with CNN’s “State of the Union” host Jake Tapper, Pence reiterated his trust in the FBI, stating, “We’ve been assured again and again that it was not the case.” He emphasized, “I’ve seen the director of the FBI repeatedly, and I assure the American people that the FBI were not the instigators of the riot that occurred on Jan. 6.”

Acknowledging the FBI’s efforts to apprehend those involved in the Capitol breach, Pence expressed gratitude, stating, “I’m very grateful for the efforts of the FBI to bring nearly 1,000 people to justice who ransacked our Capitol and did violence against police officers that day.” He firmly advocated for holding all individuals responsible for the riot accountable under the law, expressing satisfaction that many have already faced consequences.

Reflecting on his personal experience on January 6, when he was evacuated from the Capitol amidst the chaos, Pence conveyed his deep dismay at the sight of people “literally breaking windows, ransacking the Capitol.” He emphasized, “It just infuriated me. I remember thinking, ‘Not this, not here, not at the United States Capitol.’” Pence condemned the attack, asserting that it should never have occurred.

Pence, who has previously criticized Trump’s rhetoric on that fateful day, maintained his stance, stating, “I believe history will judge his role in that.” Despite a notable portion of Republicans subscribing to the theory that the FBI instigated the violence, Pence urged people to rely on the facts, emphasizing the sacrifices made by Capitol Hill Police and expressing optimism about the Republican Party’s future leadership.

Addressing recent developments, Pence commented on the Supreme Court’s decision to consider a case regarding Trump’s eligibility on the Colorado primary ballot. He emphasized that he has never referred to the events of January 6 as an “insurrection” and argued for keeping Trump’s name on ballots nationwide. Pence contended that efforts to remove Trump from ballots undermine the democratic process, asserting, “These efforts to take the decision away from the American people are antithetical to the very democracy that President Biden and many Democrats are talking about wanting to defend.” Confident in the wisdom of the American people, Pence expressed belief that the Supreme Court would uphold the principle of letting citizens decide their preferred candidates.

{Matzav.com}