[Video below.] Former Vice President Mike Pence said Friday that individuals who assaulted law enforcement officers or damaged government property during the January 6 Capitol riot should never have been pardoned and should not receive any financial compensation.

Speaking during an appearance on HBO’s “Real Time,” Pence discussed the events of January 6 with host Bill Maher and drew a distinction between those who were simply present that day and those who engaged in violence or criminal conduct.

Maher suggested that Americans might be able to find common ground regarding the events at the Capitol.

“OK, so, I mean, it seems like we could, so many of these things we could come to some agreement with the middle, like January 6, like, Trump, pardon everybody. Could we say that, yes, some people were there just for reasons of who knows, they weren’t exactly tourists, but they weren’t t having horrible intent. Other people? Can we say some bad people were here, like the ones who wanted to hang you? Can we say those were bad people?”

Pence responded by reiterating a position he has expressed before, saying he did not object to pardons for some individuals caught up in the day’s events, but strongly opposed clemency for those who committed violent acts or attempted to interfere with the constitutional process.

“Bill, I made it clear I had no problem with the president pardoning people who got caught up in that day. But for anyone who assaulted a police officer, anybody that violated and vandalized the seat of our government and sought to disrupt the counting of electoral college votes, those people never should have been pardoned, and they should never get a dime.”

Maher then shifted the conversation to the threats directed at Pence during the riot, asking, “So, no ill feelings about the hanging thing?”

Pence replied, “You know, I get, you know…”

Maher followed up by pressing him on whether he feared for his life as the situation unfolded.

“Did you ever fear for your life? Do you, did you actually fear that they would, that that could happen?”

Pence answered by emphasizing his determination during the crisis rather than any personal fear.

“Well, to be honest with you, I never felt a greater sense of resolve any day in my life than on January 6.”

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{Matzav.com}