In Contentious Interview, Elise Stefanik Tells Kaitlan Collins ‘I Would Not Have Done What Mike Pence Did’ on Jan. 6

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) said that had she been vice president on Jan. 6, 2021, she would have refused to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Stefanik, who has been floated as a potential running mate for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, appeared on Thursday’s edition of The Source with Kaitlan Collins.

Trump has falsely claimed the 2020 election was rigged against him. In the weeks after the contest, he tried to pressure officials in states he lost to overturn the results. When those attempts failed, he urged then-Vice President Mike Pence to refuse to certify the results in Congress as the presiding officer. Pence resisted Trump’s demand after being informed by his counsel that by refusing to certify, he would be breaking the law.

Nevertheless, Stefanik said she would have heeded Trump on Jan. 6:

COLLINS: Had you been vice president on January 6th, 2021, what would you have done?

STEFANIK: I stood up for the Constitution. I believe–

COLLINS: No, what would you have done if you were vice president?

STEFANIK: I would not have done what Mike Pence did. I don’t think that was the right approach. I specifically stand by what I said on the House floor. And I stand by my statement, which was–

COLLINS: So, you would have rejected the votes?

STEFANIK: There was unconstitutional overreach in states like Pennsylvania, and I think it’s very important that we continue to stand up for the Constitution and have legal and secure elections, which we did not have in 2020. And tens of millions of Americans agree with me, Kaitlan.

COLLINS: Well, I would say the Supreme Court in the state of Pennsylvania said that Republican-passed changes to their law was constitutional. But it’s notable to hear you say, given you’re in the running to be the vice president, that you would’ve rejected those votes. Come this election, when Vice President Harris is in that position, would you be ok if she rejected the votes if Donald Trump wins?

STEFANIK: Listen, we need to make sure the election is constitutional and legal. We’re talking about Democrats–

COLLINS: It was legal.

STEFANIK: It was not, Kaitlan. It was unconstitutional when there was circumventing state legislatures, unilaterally changing election law. I stand by my statement on the House floor. And again, tens of millions of Americans agree with that statement and have questions about the validity–

COLLINS: Because Republicans are sowing doubt about the election.

STEFANIK: No, no, no, because the American people have rightful questions on the constitutionality.

Many Republican politicians are aware the 2020 election was not rigged. However, some of the more ambitious ones in particular have decided to echo Trump’s falsehoods to stay in his good graces or benefit from his patronage.

Watch above via CNN.