Vice President Mike Pence took to Twitter Wednesday to threaten the citizens who voted for his re-election in the 2020 presidential campaign, promising that pro-Trump protesters on Capitol Hill “will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” Moments later, news broke that Pence had defied Trump by unilaterally deployment the National Guard against American citizens.
According to a statement from the office of acting SECDEF Chris Miller, Pence met with Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Sen, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, the lawmakers conspired to deploy the National Guard against protesters behind President Trump’s back.
Acting SECDEF Chris Miller on activation of the D.C. National Guard:
"Our people are sworn to defend the constitution and our democratic form of government and they will act accordingly." pic.twitter.com/OR6vCBtOQC
— Andrew deGrandpre (@adegrandpre) January 6, 2021
JUST IN: US Acting Secretary of Defense states he discussed deployment of National Guard with VP Pence, Senate Leader McConnell, House Speaker Pelosi and Senator Schumer, but no mention of President Trump.
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) January 6, 2021
Additionally, Pence authored two tweets threatening punitive action against the citizens who voted for his re-election in 2020.
“The violence and destruction taking place at the US Capitol Must Stop and it Must Stop Now. Anyone involved must respect Law Enforcement officers and immediately leave the building,” Pence said.
Reports and video evidence indicate that Wednesday’s protest and occupation of federal buildings were mostly peaceful in nature, with the only reported fatality being a female protester who was gunned down by police.
“Peaceful protest is the right of every American but this attack on our Capitol will not be tolerated and those involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Pence raged.
Peaceful protest is the right of every American but this attack on our Capitol will not be tolerated and those involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) January 6, 2021
President Trump called for peace in a video message Wednesday, but has been repeatedly attacked by GOP leadership in statements throughout the course of the day’s events.
In an appearance on the Fox News Channel, former White House Chief of Staff Reince Preibus called protesters domestic terrorists who “have no respect for democracy” and act “opposite of patriotism.” Preibus described the concerns of Trump voters in Washington as “pure insanity and disgusting.”