Still a top contender but languishing in the polls, Pence in recent days has begun to lodge sharper criticisms at the former president for his role in the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol, creating space between himself and fellow candidates who see any criticism of Trump as a third rail with voters who still see him as the de facto leader of the GOP.
Republican presidential candidate, former Vice President Mike Pence delivers remarks at the Christians United for Israel summit on July 17, 2023, in Arlington, Virginia. Pence in recent days has begun to lodge sharper criticisms at the former president for his role in the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol.
"I don't know if the government can meet the standard of proof, the burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt, for criminal charges," Pence told' Martha McCallum in a Wednesday interview."But the American people deserve to know that president trump and his advisors didn't ask me to 'pause.' They asked me to reject votes, return votes, essentially to overturn the election.
President Trump and his gaggle of crackpot lawyers asked me to reject electoral votes and chaos would have ensued. To keep faith with the oath that I made to the American people and to Almighty God, I did my duty that day.