'A damning non-answer': Vance dodges Walz's question on 2020 election during VP debate

Ohio Sen. JD Vance refused to concede that his running mate, former President Donald Trump, lost the 2020 presidential election when asked directly about the issue by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz during the CBS News Vice Presidential debate Tuesday night.

Vance attempted to equivocate the false claims from Trump in the wake of the election that led to the Jan. 6 Insurrection, with Democrats pointing to Russian disinformation campaigns that showed up on Facebook in the 2016 election. Vance also said Trump peacefully transferred power in 2021, a claim dispelled by the insurrection taken in his name 14 days prior to President Joe Biden's inauguration.

"Jan. 6 is not Facebook ads," Walz said in response to the attempted equivocation.

Walz then reminded Vance that Trump still refuses to concede he lost the election and asked Vance directly: "Did he lose the 2020 election?"

"Tim, I'm focused on the future," Vance responded. "Did Kamala Harris censor Americans from speaking their mind in the wake of the 2020 COVID situation?"

"That is a damning non-answer," Walz said.

CBS moderators Norah O'Donnell and Margaret Brennan did not intervene in the discussion as CBS agreed not to fact check the candidates, abdicating the duty to the organization's fact-checking website CBS Confirmed and its social platforms.

The closing exchange was a terse end to what had been a cordial debate.

Trump called Jan 6. rioters "we" in presidential debate

Vance's dodge had echoes of when Trump embraced the Jan. 6 insurrection during the presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris in September, calling rioters at the capitol, "we."

"It's a disgrace. But we (referring to the insurrectionists) didn't do -- this group of people that have been treated so badly," Trump said.

The Republican nominee said that the death of Ashli Babbitt in the Capitol during the attempted overthrow of the 2020 election was a "disgrace" done by an "out-of-control police officer."

The police officer was cleared of wrongdoing in August of 2021.

Trump also attempted to dodge the question from ABC anchor David Muir, who asked if he had any regrets for any of his actions during the riot. Trump attempted to distance himself from the insurrection, attempting to push blame for inadequate security onto then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vance refuses to concede Trump lost 2020 election during Walz debate