Trump knew ‘violent mob’ was at Capitol earlier than Pence tweet

President Trump was conscious the US Capitol had been breached by his supporters when he condemned Vice President Pence in a tweet on the afternoon of Jan. 6, 2021, a Home Democratic chief stated at a committee listening to Thursday.

Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands), vice chair of the Home Democratic Caucus and a member of the choose committee investigating the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol, stated in his opening assertion that People will hear from witnesses that “Donald Trump pressured Mike Pence to undertake a legally and morally bankrupt concept that the vp may select who the subsequent president could be.”

After shedding dozens of court docket challenges in states Trump misplaced to President Biden in 2020, Trump urged then-Vice President Mike Pence in a last-ditch effort to reject Congress’ certification of electoral faculty votes, a transfer Pence and others warned exceeded his authority as vp.

“You may hear about how the vp, the White Home counsel and others instructed Donald Trump that the vp had no such authority, however President Trump wouldn’t hear,” Aguilar stated. “You may hear how Vice President Pence withstood an onslaught of stress from President Trump, each publicly and privately, a stress marketing campaign that constructed to a fever pitch with a heated cellphone name on Jan. 6. You may additionally hear that the president knew there was a violent mob on the Capitol when he tweeted at 2:24 pm that the vp didn’t have the ‘braveness’ to do what wanted to be carried out.”

Trump’s full tweet stated that “Mike Pence did not have the braveness to do what ought to have been carried out to guard our Nation and our Structure, giving States an opportunity to certify a corrected set of info, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they have been requested to beforehand certify. USA calls for reality!”

In a video screened in the course of the listening to, the committee confirmed Trump delivering a speech warning supporters it “will likely be a tragic day for our nation” if Pence would not “come via for us.”

One other clip confirmed an unidentified Trump supporter recording himself saying he heard Pence “caved” and asking these round him whether or not that was true.

“I am telling you, if Pence caved, we’re gonna drag motherf— via the streets,” the person stated. “You f— politicians are gonna get f— drug via the streets.”

The committee additionally performed footage of Trump supporters on the Capitol calling for Pence to return outdoors, in addition to chants to “hold Mike Pence!” and a picture of a noose and gallows outdoors the Capitol.

“How did we get to the purpose the place President Trump’s most radical supporters led a violent assault on the Capitol and threatened to hold President Trump’s personal vp?” Aguilar requested. “Let me be clear: Vice President Pence did the suitable factor that day. He stayed true to his oath to guard and defend the Structure.”

Witnesses for Thursday’s listening to additionally embrace Pence chief counsel Greg Jacob and retired federal decide J. Michael Luttig.