Former Vice President Mike Pence was interviewed by John Karl on ABC News, who played audio of Donald Trump justifying rioters chanting “Hang Mike Pence!”
KARL: I mean, he’s effectively justifying, or excusing, the actions of people who were calling for you to be hanged!
PENCE: There is no excuse for the violence that took place at the Capitol on January 6th, and I’ll never diminish it as long as I live, but, look…The president’s wrong. He was wrong that day, and I actually hoped he would come around in time, ton. That he would see the cadre of legal advisers he had him with had led him astray, and he hasn’t done so. i think it’s one of the reasons why this country just wants a fresh start.
KARL: Does justifying those murderous chants, does that effectively disqualify him from being commander-in-chief again?
PENCE: I think that’s a judgment for the American people to make.
KARL: What’s your judgment about it?
PENCE: I’m confident they’ll make it. Look, I’ll be honest with you. I was angry that day, and while I believe in forgiveness, I have been working hard at that for awhile. The president let me down that day. He let the country down that day, but thanks to the courage of law enforcement, the riot was quelled. We reconvened the conference the very same day, and that very same day of tragedy became a day of freedom and I’ll be proud of our small part in that, but to be honest with you the emotions of that day, the emotions since, I just haven’t had time for it. To me, there’s just too many issues that we’re facing in this country today under the failed policies of this administration that — I don’t have a lot of time for looking backwards.
KARL: Could you ever support him again for president?
PENCE: I think that’s yet to be seen, Jon.
