SIMI VALLEY, Ca.–Former Vice President Mike Pence said he’s “proud” that Congress certified President Joe Biden’s victory on January 6 after a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol.
Pence, who was the Governor of Indiana from 2013-2017, spoke at the Reagan Library on Thursday.
“There are those in our party (Republican party) who believe that, in my position as presiding officer over the joint session, that I possess the authority to reject or return electoral votes certified by the states. The Constitution provides the Vice President with no such authority before the joint session of Congress,” said Pence.
He called January 6 a “dark day,” but he is proud that Congress reconvened after the Capitol was secured to finish the work that was required of them.
“We fulfilled our duty under the laws and the Constitution of the United States. There’s almost no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American President,” said Pence. “The Presidency belongs to the American people and to the American people alone.”
Pence said he understands the disappointment of the 2020 Presidential election for the Republican party, but we would lose something far worse if Pence had rejected the electoral votes.
“There is a lot more at stake than our party and our political fortunes. If we lose faith in the Constitution, we won’t just lose elections, we’ll lose our country,” said Pence.
During the certification on January 6, the mob stormed the Capitol. Some of them chanted, “Hang Mike Pence!” Biden won the Electoral College over Donald Trump with a 306-232 vote.
LISTEN: Pence speaking at the Reagan Library
