Former President Donald Trump has denied trying to force Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election on January 6 last year.
Mr Trump’s remarks come a day after a House of Representatives election commission investigating the US Capitol riot held its third public hearing, in which former White House councilor Greg Jacob testified about the pressure campaign. , which the former vice president placed at the hands of the president and his legal team.
Numerous video testimonies, including by former White House attorney Eric Hershman, showed how Mr. Trump knew his plan to overturn the election results was illegal.
But Mr Trump has denied allegations on his social media platform, Truth Social.
“Such LIES AND REPRESENTATIONS by Unselects and absolutely no one allowed to dispute what was said,” wrote Mr. Trump. As an example, I never asked Vice President Pence to “cancel” the election (although Thomas Jefferson “took” Georgia’s votes), but that he sent the votes back to the legislature so they could determine if irregularities and fraud were widespread. and as significant as they seemed. ”
Thursday’s hearing clarified how Trump’s attorney, John Eastman, and Mr. Hershman knew the plan was illegal. He also revealed how an informant told the FBI that members of the Proud Boys would kill Mr. Pence if they found him.
Mr Jacob told the group that at a meeting in the Oval Office two days before the uprising, Mr Eastman had told the vice-president of his plan, which would violate the 1887 Electoral Census Act, which regulates how Congress counts votes. in the election to certify the presidential election.
Prior to the uprising, Mr. Trump tweeted a memorandum that spread the theory that he could overturn the results during a joint session of Congress. The member of the commission, the representative of California Pete Aguilar, also revealed that Mr. Trump’s speech at the White House before the uprising did not initially mention Mr. Pence, but that he later included the name of the vice president and advertised.
When the riot broke out, Mr. Trump tweeted that the vice president “did not have the courage” to suspend election certification, which in turn led the rebels to chant “Hang on Mike Pence.”
Andrew Feinberg contributed to the reports.
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