Top VP aide: Trump revoked my access to White House

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - US Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff Marc Short reportedly claimed that outgoing President Donald Trump revoked his White House access amid growing tension between Pence and Trump.

"CONFIRMED: Short tells me he is not allowed back on White House grounds: 'He's [Trump] blaming me for advice to VP,'" Philip Melanchthon Wegmann, White House reporter for Real Clear News, said late Wednesday on Twitter.

Trump has pressured Pence in recent weeks to block Congress’ certification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory that was scheduled Wednesday.

Pence rejected Trump's demand that he interfere in the counting of Electoral College votes, minutes before the session.

He said in a letter to Congress that he cannot claim "unilateral authority" to decide America's next commander-in-chief, but vowed to hear objections raised by lawmakers.

The letter was distributed minutes after Trump told supporters at a rally near the National Mall that he would be "very disappointed" if the hitherto loyalist vice president did not heed his demands.

"Mike Pence I hope you’re going to stand up for the good of our Constitution, and for the good of our country, and if you’re not I’m going to be very disappointed in you. I will tell you right now. I am not hearing good stories," he told the crowd.

Trump later expressed disappointment with Pence on Twitter, saying he did not show courage.

Following a breach of the Capitol building by Trump's supporters, the Senate recessed the Electoral College debate, however, lawmakers later returned to continue counting votes.

Pence announced the 306-232 electoral vote count early Thursday, officially affirming Biden and running mate Kamala Harris winners of the 2020 presidential election.