Trump's VP threat

Don advisers that Mike 'deserves' to hang: 1/6 panel

Before a prime-time viewership across nearly every TV network, Rep. Liz Cheney accused former President Donald Trump of telling his advisers during last year’s Capitol riot that Vice President Mike Pence “deserves” to be hanged in response to exhortations from the pro-Trump protesters.

The Wyoming Republican, vice chair of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, made the claim Thursday night at the panel’s first hearing, which included an 11-minute video documenting the violence.

“You will hear that President Trump was yelling and really angry at advisers who told him he needed to be doing something more,” Cheney said.

“And, aware of the rioters’ chants to hang Mike Pence, the president responded with this sentiment, quote, ‘Maybe our supporters have the right idea.’ Mike Pence, quote, ‘deserves it.’ ”

The committee did not present evidence to support the allegation, and Trump denied it in a statement Friday.

“I NEVER said, or even thought of saying, ‘Hang Mike Pence.’ This is either a made up story by somebody looking to become a star, or FAKE NEWS!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, his social-media platform.

Trump had tweeted during the riot that he was upset that Pence had refused his demand to set aside swing-state electors for President-elect Joe Biden.

Members of the rioting mob erected a makeshift gallows outside the Capitol (right), and a rioter who broke onto the Senate floor moments after Pence fled shouted, “Where’s Pence? Show yourself!”

Pence said he didn’t have the authority to reject Electoral College votes as he presided over certification of the presidential election, but Trump tweeted that Pence “didn’t have the courage.”

A Pence spokesman did not respond to The Post’s request for comment. His next public appearance is slated for Monday, when he is to give a speech in Phoenix on border security.

At Thursday’s hearing Cheney also claimed that “over multiple months, Donald Trump