Fact Check

Did Mike Pence Tweet on Jan. 6 That Those Involved 'Will Be Prosecuted to the Fullest Extent of the Law'?

As the violence by a pro-Trump mob unfolded on Jan. 6. 2021, Trump's vice president gave a stern warning.

Published Jan. 6, 2022

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 10: Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence arrives for the funeral service of the late former Senator Robert Dole (R-KS) at Washington National Cathedral on December 10, 2021 in Washington, DC. Dole, a veteran who was severely injured in World War II, was a Republican Senator from Kansas from 1969 to 1996. He ran for president three times and became the Republican nominee for president in 1996. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) ( Drew Angerer / Getty Images)
Image courtesy of Drew Angerer / Getty Images
Claim:
Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence warned on Jan. 6, 2021, that pro-Trump rioters would be "prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

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Among the various lawmakers imperiled during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence may have been in particular danger, prompting the resurfacing of a tweet he posted amid the day's destruction and carnage.

Pence was tasked with presiding over the procedural tallying of electoral college votes confirming U.S. President Joe Biden's win. Former U.S. President Donald Trump tried to strong arm Pence into doing something Pence couldn't possibly do — change the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Pro-Trump rioters who stormed the Capitol voiced their displeasure over Pence performing his duty with chants of, "Hang Mike Pence."

For his part, Pence made a pointed statement about the violence that day. He tweeted that the violence "Must Stop and it Must Stop Now," ordering rioters to leave the building.

The tweet garnered new attention on the one-year anniversary of the attack. It is an authentic tweet that can be found on Pence's Twitter page.

"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 added.

Four people died on the day of the attack. Three police officers who responded died in the days after, including two who took their own lives. About 140 officers were injured, some seriously, that day.


Sources

Schmidt, Michael S. “Trump Says Pence Can Overturn His Loss in Congress. That’s Not How It Works.” The New York Times, 5 Jan. 2021. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/05/us/politics/pence-trump-election.html.

Bethania Palma is a journalist from the Los Angeles area who started her career as a daily newspaper reporter and has covered everything from crime to government to national politics. She has written for ... read more