Former Vice President Mike Pence has expressed hope that the Justice Department will avoid prosecuting former President Donald Trump over his handling of classified documents, citing the potential to cause further division in the country.
Trump was indicted on June 8, 2023 on several charges.
Speaking at a CNN town hall, before Trump’s indictment, during his 2024 presidential campaign announcement earlier this week, Pence stressed the importance of unity in the face of various crises, including high inflation. He argued that the criminal prosecution of a former president would send a negative message to the world and encouraged the Department of Justice to resolve the matter without further action.
Trump is also presently facing charges in relation to alleged hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels, with a trial set for next year in New York. In addition, he is under federal investigation for his involvement in the January 6, 2021 insurrection and under investigation by Georgia authorities for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Despite Pence’s reservations about prosecution, he strongly criticized Trump’s actions related to the January 6 events, implying that they were indications of Trump’s unfitness for office. Pence said that anyone who puts themselves above the Constitution should never serve as president, and anyone who encourages others to put them above the Constitution should likewise be disqualified.
The classified document investigation led by Special Counsel Jack Smith centered on whether Trump obstructed the recovery of classified records he took from the White House, and whether he broke laws relating to the handling of classified information. Pence, who reported finding classified documents in his own records, was informed by the DOJ that he would not face criminal charges.
In April, Trump faced 34 criminal charges in New York, accusing him of falsifying business records related to hush-money payments. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges.