Former Vice President Mike Pence reportedly pushed back on orders from his security detail to leave the Capitol on Jan. 6 as supporters of former President Trump stormed the building in protest of Congress’ certification of President Biden’s election win.
According a Washington Post-published excerpt of the forthcoming book, “I Alone Can Fix It,” by reporters Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker, Pence expressed hesitancy to leave the Capitol, fearing it would only fulfill the wishes of Trump supporters angered by the vice president’s refusal to overturn the results of the election.
Trump had repeatedly urged Pence to contest Biden’s electoral win, though the reporters noted that Pence continuously pushed back, noting that he had no Constitutional authority to make such a move.
As rioters began storming the Capitol, Trump tweeted, “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution.”
With some of those marching through the Capitol chanting, “Hang Mike Pence,” Tim Giebels, the lead special agent in charge of the vice president’s protective detail, asked Pence twice to evacuate the building, according to the Post reporters
Pence reportedly declined, telling Giebels, “I’m not leaving the Capitol.”
According to the book, Giebels then said, “They’re in the building… The room you’re in is not secure. There are glass windows. I need to move you. We’re going.”
Once Pence was brought down to an area where his armored limousine was waiting, Giebels reportedly told Pence, “We can hold here.”
However, Pence responded, “I’m not getting in the car, Tim,” according to the book.
“I trust you, Tim, but you’re not driving the car,” he added. “If I get in that vehicle, you guys are taking off. I’m not getting in the car.”
The reporters said that Pence, along with his wife, Karen, and their daughter, Charlotte, “made their way to a secure underground area to wait out the riot.”
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Pence refused to leave Capitol during riot: book https://t.co/dPK6qu86MK pic.twitter.com/devQONeKam
— The Hill (@thehill) July 17, 2021
the VP was giving orders to military while POTUS watched violence on TV "As Pence gave orders to the military, the actual commander in chief was effectively AWOL. Trump spent the afternoon glued to the television watching the drama unfold." https://t.co/Ec1DjMEaYZ
— Clint Watts (@selectedwisdom) July 16, 2021
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