ATLANTA — Mike Pence, who was virtually killed by Donald Trump’s followers throughout their Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, on Friday tacitly supported the brand new Georgia indictment in opposition to him for attempting to overturn his election loss in that state.
“We ought to be willing to tell the American people the truth, and the first principles are that no one’s above the law,” he informed reporters following an look at radio discuss present host Erick Erickson’s presidential candidates discussion board.
He stated that Trump and the opposite 18 who’ve been charged with felony counts starting from racketeering to forgery to fraud are presumed harmless of the crimes till confirmed responsible in courtroom.
“That being said, I do think it’s important that irrespective of that case or other cases going forward that we speak the truth to the American people that I had no right to overturn the election, and the Georgia election was not stolen,” he added.
Pence’s assertion stands out for his willingness to offer legitimacy to the indictment introduced by Fulton County District Legal professional Fani Willis, following a two-year investigation sparked by the discharge of a recording capturing Trump’s try to coerce state elections officers to “find” him sufficient votes to win.
Whereas former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and former Texas congressman Will Hurd have all repeatedly criticized Trump for his efforts to stay in energy regardless of dropping the 2020 election, the others within the GOP subject have declined to take action, and have even verbally attacked the prosecutors.
On Tuesday, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott stated, “We see the legal system being weaponized against political opponents.” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis informed reporters, “I think it’s an example of this criminalization of politics.”
Trump’s indictment in Georgia is his fourth total, and brings the whole variety of felony counts in opposition to him to 91. Trump faces 4 counts in a federal indictment for his coup try, in addition to 40 in a separate federal case primarily based on his refusal to show over secret paperwork he was preserving at his Florida nation membership. A New York State indictment earlier this yr charged him on 34 counts of falsifying enterprise data to cover a $130,000 hush cash fee to a porn star simply forward of the 2016 election.
Regardless of all this, Trump stays the polling chief, by massive margins, for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.
