“Mike, if you do this, it could be the death of your political career,” Donald Trump told Mike Pence on the phone, hours before the then vice president of the United States informed the country. Certificate of Elections.
This phrase was revealed by the “New York Times” newspaper this Thursday, citing a transcript of an interview conducted with a White House official – as part of an investigation into the events of January 6, 2021. Oval Office during a phone call.
According to the official, Trump used a tone of “disappointment and frustration” to persuade his vice president not to confirm Joe Biden's nomination. “Do the right thing,” insisted the new Republican candidate for president in November of this year.
After Pence's statement confirming the conversation and denial between the two, Trump posted the following sentence on Twitter: “Pence doesn't have the guts to do what needs to be done to protect our country and the Constitution”. At the time, the former president had about 80 million followers
“Because the President's tweet is irresponsible, I don't have time for that. There were rioters destroying the Capitol… The president had decided to be part of the problem, and I decided to be part of the solution,” Pence said in his biography, “So help God.” “So I ignored the tweet and went back to work,” he wrote.
Although the details of this phone call with Trump have never been released, Pence has already indicated several times that he was pressured by the businessman with the aim of not confirming the victory of Joe Biden. In one of these conversations, Trump criticized Pence for being “too honest.” And he warned him: “Thousands of people will hate you.”
In late February, an Illinois state court ruled that Trump could not participate in the state's Republican primaries because of his role in the January 6 attacks. Colorado and Maine removed Trump's name from their ballots, citing the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which bars citizens from public office who swear to defend the nation and then participate in “acts of rebellion.”
However, the US Supreme Court reversed Colorado's decision a few weeks ago. “We conclude that the States may disqualify persons who hold or attempt to hold public office. But, under the Constitution, the States have no power to enforce Article 3 [da Constituição] Federal posts, particularly the presidency,” the court's judges explained Washington
Jean Rhys is a contributor to OE Mag, covering news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on clear, accurate reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current affairs and developments that matter to them. Her work highlights relevant stories, emerging trends, and key issues, presenting them in a balanced, accessible, and reader-friendly way.