Former Vice President Pence speaks out about Trump’s conviction in NYC
Former Vice President Mike Pence expressed his dismay on Friday regarding the criminal conviction of former President Donald Trump in a New York City courtroom, stating that a “terrible message” has been conveyed. Pence emphasized that while no one is above the law, the courts should not be manipulated as weapons against political adversaries.
Pence articulated, “To millions of Americans, this was nothing but a politically motivated prosecution initiated by a Manhattan DA who campaigned on indicting the former president. This conviction erodes trust in our justice system.” He further expressed concern about the impact of the conviction on the global perception of the American justice system and its potential to intensify divisions, especially during a time when citizens are grappling with the challenges posed by the Biden administration.
Emphasizing the importance of upholding justice, Pence declared, “Following his conviction, the former president has the right to appeal. I trust that the appeal process will restore public faith in our justice system and ensure equitable treatment under the law.”
On Thursday, Trump made history by becoming the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime. Subsequent to the jury’s announcement, Trump denounced the trial as a “disgrace” orchestrated by a biased judge and vowed that the true verdict would be determined by the people on Nov. 5.
Pence, who had previously criticized the indictment against Trump, is among a cohort of Republicans standing in defense of the former president. He decried the unprecedented prosecution of a former president on a campaign finance charge as an affront to justice and condemned it as a politically motivated strategy.
Since the fallout between Pence and Trump following the Jan. 6 riots, where Trump blamed him for his reluctance to send back election results to state legislatures, Pence has refrained from endorsing the former president. Despite their differences, Pence underscored his pride in the conservative achievements of their administration, which fostered prosperity, security, and a judiciary aligned with conservative principles.
