'What an effing liar': Internet slams Mike Stiegler as he claims former VP Mike Pence almost died in Capitol riot

WASHINGTON, DC: In an eyebrow-raising statement, former Situation Room officer Mike Stiegler has claimed that former Vice President Mike Pence came perilously close to losing his life during the insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Stiegler shed light on the apparent gravity of the situation that unfolded on that fateful day, highlighting the unprecedented threat faced by one of the highest-ranking officials in the nation.

Reflections from Situation Room

Speaking in an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos on 'Good Morning America', Stiegler emphasized the severity of the crisis, reflecting on the discussions within the Sit Room as chaos engulfed the Capitol.

"It’s important to me that we don’t forget that it did come that close, and that we did have discussions, ‘If we lose the [vice president,] if the 25th [Amendment] is invoked,’" Stiegler revealed, hinting at the contingency plans that were being considered as the situation escalated. “We started running through all of these game plans because it was getting close.”

Throughout its storied history spanning six decades, the Situation Room has been the nerve center during some of America's most trying times, from nuclear crises to presidential assassinations. Yet, an insurrection against the US government was unprecedented.

Stiegler recounted the "most harrowing part" of the ordeal to Stephanopoulos in a Vanity Fair piece.

“How close we came to losing the vice president,” he told the newscaster. “The screams, the yelling. The different things that we heard that day.”

“It was horrific,” he added. “There’s a group of us that were on duty that day, and we don’t know how to process it still…We don’t know how to talk about it. And we don’t know who to talk about it with. There are a lot of things we witnessed that day that we can’t talk about. And how do you deal with that?”

However, many on the right are skeptical of such assertions. 

Senator JD Vance of Ohio, a potential ally of former President Trump, has cast doubt on the severity of the threat faced by Pence, saying earlier this month that “politics and politics people like to really exaggerate things from time to time.”

“I think — look, Jan. 6 was a bad day. It was a riot. But the idea that Donald Trump endangered anyone’s lives when he told them to protest peacefully, it’s just absurd,” Vance added, per The Hill.

In March, Pence made it clear that he wouldn't endorse his former boss, citing significant differences between them on various issues.

"During my presidential campaign, I made it clear there were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issues. And not just our difference on my constitutional duties that I exercised January 6th," Pence said on 'The Story with Martha MacCallum' that month.

Pence expressed disagreement with Trump's stance on abortion and his approach to issues like the TikTok ban.

“In each of these cases, Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years,” Pence said. “And that’s why I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign.”

Backlash over Mike Stiegler's claims

Social media was abuzz with criticism after Stiegler claimed Pence came “close” to being killed on January 6, 2021.

"No time like 3 years later," one posted on X.

"Same thing nearly happened to AOC. Amazing," another quipped.

"What an effing liar," a comment read.

"So in other words, nothing happened to him," someone else offered.

"More lies and fake narratives," another chimed in.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.