Former Vice President Mike Pence blasted former President Donald Trump on Tuesday following his former running mate’s third indictment.
“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 in a statement.
Today's indictment serves as an important reminder: anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States.
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) August 2, 2023
The former vice president doubled down on his condemnation of Trump during an interview with Fox News, wherein he said that the former president and his “gaggle of crackpot lawyers” asked him not to certify the Electoral College votes on January 6, 2021.
“President Trump and his gaggle of crackpot lawyers asked me to reject electoral votes and chaos would have ensued. To keep faith with the oath that I made to the American people and to Almighty God, I did my duty that day,” Pence captioned his video interview.
This comes after Trump was indicted for the third time over his alleged involvement in the Capitol riot on January 6, marking the second time in American history that a former president has faced criminal charges.
Trump was charged with four federal counts out of the investigation, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S.; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights.
The former commander-in-chief responded to Pence’s remarks in a post on Truth Social, mocking him because he hasn’t attracted any “crowds, enthusiasm, or loyalty” from the American people.
“I feel badly for Mike Pence, who is attracting no crowds, enthusiasm, or loyalty from people who, as a member of the Trump Administration, should be loving him. He didn’t fight against Election Fraud, which we will now be easily able to prove based on the most recent Fake Indictment & information which will have to be made available to us, finally – a really BIG deal,” Trump wrote.
While Trump and Pence had a strong relationship during most of their four years in office, things changed when the former vice president certified the Electoral College results hours after protesters stormed the Capitol two years ago.
The former president has since been speaking about refusing to do Trump’s bidding and instead following the Constitution as part of his political appearances and a recent book tour. He had, however, shied away from testifying under oath in any investigation.
