Mike Pence is “fine with Donald Trump being put in prison” which is “pretty disrespectful” given he was Trump’s vice-president, a rightwing radio host told Pence in a testy exchange.
Pence was Trump’s vice-president when Trump sent a mob to the US Capitol on January 6, in an attempt to block certification of the 2020 election. Trump did little to call off the mob when it placed Pence in danger, some chanting for him to be hanged.
Trump could yet be indicted for his election subversion but Pence’s exchange with Clay Travis was about a more pressing problem, the 37-count federal indictment over the handling of classified records to which Trump pleaded not guilty this week.
In the race for the Republican presidential nomination, Trump is more than 30 points ahead of his nearest rival, Ron DeSantis, the hard-right Florida governor. Pence lags far behind.
Candidates have struggled to find a line on Trump’s indictment. Vivek Ramaswamy, a rank outsider, has said he will pardon Trump if necessary.
On the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show on Wednesday, Pence was asked: “Would you pardon [Trump] from those federal charges?”
Pence said: “Well, first off, these are serious charges. And as I said, I can’t defend what’s been alleged, but the president does deserve to make his defense …
“Look, I have been a former governor [of Indiana]. I’ve actually granted pardons to people. And I take the pardon authority very seriously. It’s an enormously important power, of someone in an executive position. And I just think it’s premature to have any conversation about that right now, guys.”
Travis said Trump was being “prosecuted to a large extent for political-based reason, something that has never happened in the 240-plus year history of the United States”.
Admitting the allegations against Trump were “serious”, the host said that if Pence were president, he would be “the executive … the ultimate decider.
“With all due respect … I think you’re dodging the question and frankly, not stepping up on the on the front of leadership which in the past you’ve been willing to do.”
Pence said: “Number one, I don’t think you know what the president’s defence is, do you? And what are the facts? I mean, look, we either believe in our judicial process in this country, or we don’t. We either stand by the rule of law, or we don’t. What I would tell you is I think as someone who is–”
Travis cut him off: “What I’m hearing is Donald Trump being put in prison, sir. And that, to me, you were his vice-president, feels pretty disrespectful.”
Pence said: “I don’t talk about hypotheticals. Look, we don’t know what the president’s defense is. I think he’s entitled to make his defense, entitled to have his day in court. And … let’s take it one step at a time. I would just tell you that I–”
Travis cut in again: “I know that these are political charges. This is not this is not a difficult decision.”
His co-host, Buck Sexton, said: “I think we’ve gotten what we’re gonna get here in terms of the answer to this one.”
Pence said: “I think any conclusion by anyone running for the presidency of the United States that would pre-judge the facts … is premature. Let’s let the process play out. Let’s follow the facts. And I promise you as president I’ll do just that.”
On Thursday, the FiveThirtyEight.com polling average for the Republican primary put Trump at 53.4% and DeSantis at 21.4%. Pence was third, at 5.5%.
