Mike Pence has delivered his strongest critique to date of Donald Trump, his former boss and current 2024 rival, after Trump was indicted for the third time on criminal charges. Pence stated that Trump should never be president again and was a distraction to the country.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Pence emphasized that the country's well-being and the constitution should take precedence over any individual's career. While acknowledging Trump's right to the presumption of innocence, Pence asserted that the latest indictment would lead to more discussions about the January 6th events and create additional distractions.
The indictment, part of Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, includes four charges against Trump. It details how Trump relentlessly campaigned for Pence to reject the Electoral College votes for President Joe Biden during the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol.
Prosecutors allege that Trump attempted to use his supporters on January 6 to pressure Pence into altering the election results fraudulently. The indictment also reveals that Trump met with Pence on January 5, urging him to publicly criticize him, which led to Pence's chief of staff notifying the head of the vice president's Secret Service detail.
Pence's cooperation with the grand jury and testimony played a central role in the 45-page indictment, but his statement aligns with his previous comments on Trump. He reiterated that on January 6th, he chose to prioritize the Constitution over allegiance to Trump.
Trump's previous indictments include federal charges related to classified documents and New York state court charges involving alleged hush money payments to an adult film star. The mounting legal costs from his criminal cases pose a threat to his campaign.
Despite the indictments, Trump remains the frontrunner for the GOP presidential nomination. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll showed Trump with 54% support, while Pence is tied for third at 3%. Pence expressed his intention to comment further on the case against Trump after reviewing the indictment, but he highlighted the potential distraction Trump's legal issues may pose for Republicans aiming to take the White House from Biden in 2024.
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