Mike Pence says he was guided by founding father James Madison and the Bible when he decided to defy Trump and certify the 2020 election

• Mike Pence said he looked to James Madison on January 6 when certifying the 2020 election results.
• Speaking at an event, Pence also cited a Bible verse when emphasizing he kept his oath of office.

Former Vice President Mike Pence said he looked to the founding father James Madison and the Bible early this year when he decided to defy Donald Trump and certify the president's reelection defeat.

Pence was speaking at an event for young conservatives at the University of Iowa on Monday. During a question-and-answer segment after his speech, an audience member identified as Jared requested that Pence identify who in the White House counseled him to "buck President Trump's plan and certify the votes" of the 2020 US election. Jared also suggested that Pence changed his mind and decided to certify the votes because he didn't want to damage his future chances of running for office.

In response, Pence said that on January 6 he looked to James Madison - the fourth US president, who is known as the "father of the Constitution" - a response that drew applause from the audience. Pence also denied being advised that it'd hurt his chances of running for president if he followed Trump's plan to overturn the 2020 election results.

Pence then cited a verse from the Bible, alluding to the oath of office he took to defend the Constitution.

"Psalm 15 says he keeps his oath even when it hurts," Pence said.

Pence added that he had written a letter to Congress expressing his concerns about what he said were voting irregularities in several states.

"I continue to share those concerns, and I support efforts in states to improve voter integrity as has been done in places like Georgia and Arizona and elsewhere," Pence said, despite there being no evidence of widespread voter fraud in last year's election.

"I understand the disappointment in the election. You might remember I was on the ballot," Pence added. "But you've got to be willing to do your duty. And the time may come that some of you are in that position, or one like it. And I just have a feeling based on the shining faces I'm seeing around here you're going to be men and women who do your duty in that time as well."

Many Trump supporters turned on Pence when he broke with Trump and presided over Congress' certification of the 2020 vote count, with some erecting makeshift gallows and chanting "hang Mike Pence" during the Capitol riot. Trump also tweeted during the attack that Pence did not have "the courage to do what should have been done."

In June, Pence said he and Trump might never "see eye to eye" on the events of January 6.