Trump VP Hopeful Tim Scott Says He ‘Certainly’ Stands by Vote to Certify Ex-President’s Election Loss
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) said he stands by his vote to certify the 2020 election, which former President Donald Trump falsely claims was rigged against him.
Scott is reportedly on Trump’s shortlist of potential vice presidential running mates.
Appearing on ABC’s This Week, Scott was asked by host Jonathan Karl about remarks Trump made about the Jan. 6 defendants. Karl noted the ex-president returned to Capitol Hill last week for the first time since the Capitol riot, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the building to try to stop certification of the election won by Joe Biden. The host played a clip of Trump backing the Jan. 6 rioters.
“Those J6 warriors, they were warriors,” Trump said. “But they were really, more than anything else, they’re victims of what happened. All they were doing is protesting a rigged election.”
The clip ended and Karl asked Scott, “Do you agree with that?”
“Anyone who attacks an officer – whether on the Capitol grounds or anyplace else in the country – should serve time,” the senator replied, referring to the 140 or so police officers who were assaulted on Jan. 6. Scott then pivoted by saying that the “nonviolent folks who sat outside who actually simply protested” have been treated too harshly.
He went on to deem Biden “the greatest threat to democracy today.”
“Ok, Senator,” Karl said. “The day before that violent mob attacked, you put out a statement explaining your decision to certify Joe Biden’s election victory. Do you stand by that?”
“Certainly,” Scott responded. “I will stand by that decision and the next decision to certify the fact that Donald Trump will be the next president of the United States. November 5th, day of reckoning is coming.”
Karl then asked about Trump asking then-Vice President Mike Pence to refuse to reject certification of the 2020 election as presiding officer in Congress.
“You had said that Mike Pence absolutely did the right thing when he defied Donald Trump’s demand to not certify that election,” the host said. “Do you still stand by that, that Pence absolutely did the right thing on January 6th?”
“The Constitution is clear,” the senator answered. “What we’re trying to focus on is, how do we make sure we get four more years for the American people, particularly kids like me, growing up in poverty to have the best future we could possibly have?”
Watch above via ABC.
