Mike Pence Says Pardon Discussion Is “Premature”

Federal prosecutors have charged Trump with 37 crimes.

The former president has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Mike Pence recently waded into a discussion about the charges against his former boss.

Trump has also been indicted in New York and is possibly facing charges in two other cases.

(NewsReady.com) – Former President Donald Trump became the first ex-POTUS in American history to be arraigned on federal charges on June 13. Trump has called the counts against him a continuation of the witch hunt he alleges he’s dealt with for years. He pleaded not guilty to 37 charges related to allegedly mishandling and trying to cover up the mishandling of classified documents. Former Vice President Mike Pence recently discussed whether he would pardon his 2024 rival.

A Pardon for an Old Pal?

The day after Trump’s arraignment, Pence appeared on the “Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show.” The hosts asked the former VP if he would be willing to issue a pardon for the former president if he won the 2024 presidential race and Trump were convicted.

Pence told the hosts that the charges against Trump are “serious” and he “can’t defend what’s been alleged.” He explained that he has a “standard rule” that he isn’t going to speak about “hypotheticals.” That said, he thinks the 45th POTUS deserves the opportunity to defend himself against the charges.

The former vice president went on to say that he thinks anyone who is running for the White House and making conclusions “that would prejudge the facts” about any investigation is “premature.”

Pence’s remarks about Trump deserving his day in court mirror a statement made by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who said the 45th president, like every other defendant, “must be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”

More Legal Troubles

In addition to the federal charges, Trump is under indictment in New York state. The Manhattan District Attorney Letitia James has accused him of falsifying business records in relation to the alleged hush money scandal involving adult film star Stephanie “Stormy Daniels” Clifford.

Special Counsel Smith is also reportedly investigating Trump for his role in the January 6, 2021, incident on Capitol Hill. Reports indicate the US attorney has impaneled a grand jury to decide whether charges should be brought in that case.

Trump is also under investigation in Fulton County, Georgia, for allegedly trying to interfere with the 2020 election results. In a June 14 statement, officials from the district attorney’s office said the federal indictment wouldn’t impact their probe. A decision about charges, in that case, is expected sometime this summer.