Former Vice President Mike Pence has had plenty of chances to lash out at his former Oval Office boss Donald Trump, and Pence has largely ignored the opportunities, preferring to agree with Trump’s self-portrait as a man unfairly persecuted by a “weaponized” and politicized Department of Justice.
[NOTE: Even last week Pence said Trump’s conduct in pursuit of staying in office after losing the election was “reckless” but not “criminal.”]
But in the wake of Trump’s most recent indictment — on charges that he tried to defraud the United States — Pence seems to be exploring, albeit it cautiously, a break with the former President.
Notably saying that Trump was “entitled to the presumption of innocence,” Pence still characterized the latest charges against the former President as disqualifying for a Presidential candidate, which both Trump and Pence are presently.
What changed Pence’s mind? Pence says the new charges are strong enough to be a distraction to the real GOP agenda. Pence describes the priorities Americans should be focused on with this quote:
“As Americans, [Trump’s] candidacy means less attention paid to Joe Biden’s disastrous economic policies afflicting millions across the United States and to the pattern of corruption with Hunter.”
NOW: Former VP Mike Pence officially breaks with Trump and accuses him of putting himself ahead of the Constitution pic.twitter.com/LBevyVDdXy
— Brian J. Karem (@BrianKarem) August 1, 2023
The effectiveness of Biden’s economic policies aside, Pence essentially asserts that Trump’s alleged crimes are sabotaging the GOP’s attempt — most notably by the House Oversight Committee — to pin more wide-ranging crimes on Hunter Biden and link those crimes to his father.
The new charges against Trump entailing his attempt to hold onto power hit far closer to Pence than Trump’s post-presidency conduct, also resulting in a federal indictment, involving the alleged illegal handling of classified documents. Pence is a key character in the actions depicted in the latest indictment.
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