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In reply to the discussion: Remember Sen Grassley's tweet about filling in for Pence? [View all]Mike 03
(16,616 posts)I had to check this thread out because Thom Hartmann mentioned in on his program yesterday.
I'm just relaying what is in several of the books (most likely "Peril" and "I Alone Can Fix It," but possibly "Frankly We Did Win This Election" .
The story in those books (for whatever they are worth) is that the Secret Service was in the process of trying to move Pence as well as members of Congress to locations away from the Capitol. Many refused to go, including Pelosi and Pence, stating that they wanted to certify the election that night. It's not that Pence did not leave the Capitol that day "because he didn't trust the driver." He was dead set on not leaving the Capitol period and finishing the certification to show the Insurrectionists that they hadn't won. (So were Pelosi, McConnell and I can't remember who all else).
Both Pelosi and Pence were opposed to following Secret Service orders to get into vehicles because they both knew that if they were put inside a car that the car would leave the Capitol. Pence was told, "Just sit in the car for your own safety" but he knew if he got inside the car would usher him away to the undisclosed location (which are disclosed in the books).
The way it's presented in the books, it wasn't like Pence suddenly distrusted the Secret Service in the sense they might be up to nefarious deeds. He just knew the protocol, he was aware they wanted him away from the Capitol and he didn't want to leave. Nowhere in those books is it suggested there was a plot to remove him or anyone else from the Capitol for the purpose of delaying certification or overturning the election. But something new is coming out every day so as Rachel Maddow always says, "Watch this space."