CROWD GATHERS in front of U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, before storming the seat of Congress in what is being called “insurrection” (Pexels/Tyler Merbler).

Then-president Donald Trump pressured then-vice president Mike Pence to delay or overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was told on Thursday.

According to The New York Times, when Pence refused to block the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as president and vice president based on Trump’s unsupported claim of widespread election fraud, Trump’s angry tweets ran the risk of violent protesters killing the vice president.

A faux gallows was erected on Capitol grounds by rioters upset over Pence’s decision to not go along with the president.

“Donald Trump knew he lost the 2020 election,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-California), “but he could not bring himself to participate in the peaceful transfer of power.”

Biden: Recession “not inevitable”

While acknowledging that Americans were feeling “really, really down,” President Joe Biden on Thursday argued that a recession was “not inevitable.”

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN

In an interview with The Associated Press, Biden said that he inherited many of the economic problems now worrying people and pushed back against the idea that COVID-19 relief programs were largely responsible for inflation.

Efforts to combat rising consumer costs run the risk of stifling spending so that the economy might fall into recession. “We’re in a stronger position than any nation in the world to overcome this inflation,” citing an historically low 3.6 unemployment rate.

Sports:  MLB shifts? A’s and Rays

Some of the most intriguing sports news took place off the field on Thursday. Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfried said that new stadium deals were crucial to keeping the A’s in Oakland and the Rays in Tampa Bay.

He said that the situation in Tampa Bay is urgent as the Rays’ lease at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg expires after the 2027 season. MLB has rejected a proposal for the Rays to split its season between Florida and Montreal.

In Oakland, where the stadium dates back to 1968, the situation was more encouraging as city officials are working with team leadership. Meanwhile, Las Vegas stands ready as a new home for a franchise that has moved from Philadelphia to Kansas City to Oakland.

• The Los Angeles Angels defeated the Seattle Mariners 4-1 behind two two- run home runs by Mike Trout. Shohei Ohtani pitched six shutout innings. The win improved the Halos’ record to 30-35.

• The Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics 103-90 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals Thursday. It is their fourth NBA championship..

Weather: Sun right around the corner

Just one more day of partly cloudy skies on Friday, and then the sunny days should begin. The forecast for the West Orange County area is for a daytime high of 75, with an overnight low of 59. On Saturday, the temps should be similar (75/58) but with lots of sun. Sunday will be slightly warmer at 78 (60), followed by Monday’s 87 (64).