WASHINGTON Former Vice President Mike Pence briefly considered not presiding over the ceremony that formalized his coup-attempting bosss 2020 election loss, once again raising questions about the contemporaneous scheming about Iowas Chuck Grassley presiding in his stead.

In his daily planner, in which he also took journal-like notes, Pence on Christmas Eve in 2020 wrote it might be better to abdicate his constitutionally proscribed role overseeing the Electoral College tally to avoid bruising then-President Donald Trump s ego.

Not feeling like I should attend electoral count, he wrote, according to a report Tuesday by ABC News . Too many questions, too many doubts, too hurtful to my friend. Therefore Im not going to participate in certification of election.

But Pence soon abandoned that notion and returned to his previous plan to preside over the Jan. 6, 2021, ceremony, citing a conversation with his son, an active-duty Marine, who reminded him that both had taken an oath to protect and uphold the U.S. Constitution.

Former aides to Pence declined to comment on ABCs report, which offers new details about Pences testimony before the federal grand jury that ultimately indicted Trump on four felony counts based on his attempt to remain in power despite having lost reelection.