Former Vice President Mike Pence was direct in his response to former President Donald Trump’s indictment by Special Counsel Jack Smith on Tuesday. In a released statement, Pence accused Trump of prioritizing himself over the Constitution and expressed concern that a Trump candidacy would divert attention from President Biden’s record, which he described as “disastrous.” This came after Trump’s indictment on charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol and his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
“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.
Pence emphasized that the nation held greater significance than any individual, stating that the Constitution held paramount importance above any individual’s career.
“On January 6th, former President Trump demanded that I choose between him and the Constitution. I chose the Constitution and I always will,” he said.
“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.
