Live updates: Trump lawyers argue his impeachment is a ‘blatantly unconstitutional act of political vengeance’

The 12-second video clip — aerial footage from a security camera just outside the Senate chamber — was harrowing: Vice President Mike Pence under physical threat, fleeing for his safety from an angry mob egged on by his boss, Donald Trump.

The footage from the Jan. 6 Capitol siege played by Democratic House impeachment managers this week portrays Pence as an American hero, under attack by Trump and his supporters simply for fulfilling his constitutional duties.

“Mike Pence is not a traitor to this country — he is a patriot,” said Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Tex.), one of the impeachment managers. “He and his family, who was with him that day, didn’t deserve this, didn’t deserve a president unleashing a mob on them. Especially because he was just doing his job.”

But after four years of obedience as vice president, Pence has no plans to condemn Trump or to speak out during the Senate impeachment trial, people close to the former vice president said. He is still operating from a playbook of obsequiousness that has become second nature — never airing grievances publicly, and delivering his often rose-colored counsel to Trump only in private, one-on-one settings.