Former United States Vice President Mike Pence has denied Donald Trump’s claim that he could have prevented Joe Biden from becoming President last year.
In his most forceful rebuttal yet, he said Mr Trump was wrong to suggest he had the authoriy to overturn the election.
Separately, the Republican Party chastised two of its top lawmakers for conducting an invesvigation into the Capitol riots.
On 6 January last year, a mob stormed the Capitol as lawmakers met to confirm President Joe Biden’s poll victory.
During the riots, four people were killed, and a police officer who suffered two strokes while defending the building died the next day.
Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger are the only Republicans on a congressional select committee looking into the riots.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) accused the two of assisting in the persecution of “ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse.”
The RNC appeared to imply that rioters were involved in legitimate political actions, but RNc Chair Ronna McDaniel clarified that the reference was to “legitimate political discourse that had nothing to do with violence at the Capitol.”
According to reports, the vote was approved by an overwhelming majority of the 168 RNC members at their winter meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The committee stated that it would “immediately cease any and all support for them” as party members without dismissing them.
Both lawmakers released statements ahead of the vote.
“The Republican Party’s leaders have become willing hostages to a man who admits attempting to overturn a presidential election and suggests he would pardon 6 January defendants some of whom have been charged with seditious conspiracy,” Ms Cheney said.
They were also backed by other Trump detractors in the party.
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“Shame falls on a party that would censure persons of conscience, who seek truth in the face of vitriol,” Senator Mitt Romney tweeted.
Mr Pence was speaking in Orlando, Florida, in response to Mr Trump’s comments on Sunday that he could have overturned the election if he wanted to.
Mr. Trump falsely claimed that Mr. Biden stole the election.
Days later, Mr. Trump stated that the select committee should be looking into Mr. Pence rather than the rioters.
“President Trump is incorrect. I had no legal standing to overturn the election.
The presidency belongs to the people of the United States, and only the people of the United States “Mr. Pence stated.
“And when we beat them in 2024, [current Vice President] Kamala Harris will have no right to overturn the election.”
