History may well remember Pence's actions that day as saving the American Republic. Pence could have gone along with Trump at the start. He could have gotten in that car., been whisked away and deacto relieved of responsability. He could have declined to finish the count.

He seemed to know that if he got in that car he wouldn't be back. He even said to his personal guard, that he trusted him but not whoever was driving. That alone speaks volumes.