Former vice president and White House hopeful Mike Pence responded to the latest indictment by Special Counsel Jack Smith against former president and GOP front-runner Donald Trump with his most forceful repudiation of Jan. 6 yet.
Pence has previously said Trump's “reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day.” He's also defended himself against Trump's incorrect claim from a Jan. 5, 2021 tweet that declared he had “the power to reject fraudulently chosen electors” by pointing to the 12th Amendment and Electoral Control Act (also, each state appoints its electors under a process specified by the Constitution).
Pence has framed his choice as being forced to choose between fealty to Donald Trump or the Constitution. But he's largely gone out of his way to avoid addressing Trump personally.
Until now.
Fox News explains:
In a statement released following Trump's indictment on charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol and efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, Pence accused Trump of putting himself over the Constitution, and said a Trump candidacy would serve as a distraction from President Biden's “disastrous” record.
“Today's indictment serves as an important reminder: anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States,” Pence said. “I will have more to say about the government's case after reviewing the indictment.”
“The former president is entitled to the presumption of innocence but with this indictment, his candidacy means more talk about January 6th and more distractions. As Americans, his 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,” he said.
After repeating the sentiment that country is “more important than one man” and “the Constitution is more important than one man's career,” Pence continued. “On January 6th, former President Trump demanded that I choose between him and the Constitution. I chose the Constitution and I always will.”
“As your president, I will not yield an inch in defending America, our people, or our values, and I promise you: I will do so in a way consistent with my oath to the Constitution and the character and decency of the American people. We will restore a threshold of integrity and civility in public life so we can bring real solutions to the challenges plaguing our nation,” he added.
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