Former Vice President Mike Pence dismissed claims made by former President Donald Trump and others that the FBI initiated the Capitol riot on Jan. 6. Pence, who was trapped inside the Capitol during the riot, stated that there is no evidence supporting the notion of the bureau’s involvement.
“I’ve seen the director of the FBI repeatedly assure the American people that the FBI were not the instigators of the riot that occurred on January 6,” Pence noted on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
“Frankly, I’m very grateful for the efforts of the FBI to bring nearly a thousand people to justice who ransacked our Capitol and did violence against police officers to that day,” he added, calling for the perpetrators to be held accountable.
During a recent rally in Sioux Center, Iowa, Trump said, “There was Antifa and there was FBI — there were a lot of other people there too leading the charge.”
During another rally in the Hawkeye State, Trump referred to those prosecuted over the riot as “hostages.” Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy labeled the three-year anniversary of the riot as “Entrapment Day” and shared what he called a series of truths about Jan. 6, 2021. Despite accusations, top law enforcement officials, including FBI Director Christopher Wray, vehemently denied any FBI involvement in orchestrating the riot.
While condemning the violence of Jan. 6, 2021, Pence simultaneously cautioned President Biden that overly emphasizing the riot might prove futile in the 2024 election.
“I understand why President Biden wants to focus his campaign on three years ago. The record for this administration has weakened America at home,” Pence said.
“I don’t think the election is going to be decided on a tragic day three years ago. I think it’s going to be decided on the failed policies of the Biden administration that have emboldened the enemies of freedom around the world, launched the worst inflation, [and] that created the worst crisis on our border in American history.”
