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Former Vice President Mike Pence doesnt think Donald Trump should be indicted for his Jan. 6 activities, and he seems to be basing his reasoning, in part, on bad Christmas movie scripts and not on actual legal theory.

The House committee investigating the insurrection is making its final public presentation Monday about Trumps unprecedented effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

But Pence told Fox News on Monday that he hopes the Justice Department doesnt indict his former boss for his role inciting the Capitol Hill riot because of what he claims is a partisan taint.

Congress has no formal role in Justice Department decisions, so they can make recommendations today, Pence said. But when it comes to the Justice Departments decision about bringing charges in the future, I would hope that they would not bring charges against the former president.

Pence then suggested that Trumps only crime was picking bad attorneys.

The presidents actions and words on Jan. 6 were reckless, but I dont know that its criminal to take bad advice from lawyers, Pence said.

Pence then tried to suggest the DOJ shouldnt be Grinches by following the pesky rule of law when it is, after all, Christmas, before deciding to indict Trump.

I think that would be terribly divisive in the country at a time when the American people want to see us heal, Pence said. At this time of year, were all thinking about the most important things in our lives: our faith, our family. And my hope is, the Justice Department think very carefully before proceeding.

You can watch the exchange below.

Many Twitter users werent impressed by Pences comments, including two former Republican congressmen.

Other Twitter users werent impressed either.

Pence has spent much of his time trying to appeal to Trumps MAGA base while also trying to make his own mark as a viable Republican candidate.

In the process, hes gone to extremes, from demanding Trump apologize for hosting white supremacist organizer Nick Fuentes at Mar-a-Lago and avoiding giving a straight answer after being asked if he still considered the former president to be a good man to admitting voters have better choices than reelecting his old boss.

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Mike Pence Doesn't Want The DOJ To Ruin Trump's Christmas

Former Vice President Mike Pence refused to commit his support to former President Donald Trumps bid for reelection during a CNN town hall on Wednesday. Speaking with moderator Jake Tapper a day after the release of his memoir, So Help Me God, and Trumps official snoozefest, Pence said Republicans will have better choices in the 2024 presidential race than Trump.

I think its time for new leadership in this country that will bring us together around our highest ideals, Pence said, adding the highly doubtful sentiment that Americans want us to get back to the policies of the Trump-Pence administration.

When pressed on whether or not he would run for president in 2024, Pence told Tapper, Ill keep you posted.

The former VP was less coy when asked about Jan. 6, which he called the most difficult day of my public life. Trump held Pence largely responsible for the failure of his illegal attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, repeating the false claim that Pence had the power to do so.

After Tapper showed Pence footage of rioters at the Capitol chanting hang Mike Pence as his family fled to safety, Pence said that day it angered me.

I had one higher loyalty, and that was to God and the Constitution. And thats what set in motion the confrontation that would come to pass on January 6 because I had taken an oath to the Constitution of the United States, Pence said of his role that day, when Trump and his allies tried to convince Pence to join an unconstitutional bid to overturn the election results.

Earlier this week on ABC, Pence accusedDonald Trumpof endangering me and my family and everyone at the Capitol building, and added that on the day of the Capitol riot, the presidents words were reckless. It was clear he decided to be part of the problem.

When confronted with the question on why he didnt do more to stop Trumps dangerous spread of misinformation about the election, Pence pointed the blame elsewhere. The finger-pointing was specifically in the direction of Trumps personal attorney Rudy Giuliani and other advisors who were telling him what his itching ears wanted to hear.

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Mike Pence Says Republicans 'Have Better Choices' Than Trump

Exactly three months ago today, former Vice President Mike Pence appeared in New Hampshire and said hed consider testifying before the Jan. 6 committee. This week, the Republican sat down with CBS News and said the opposite.

Pence also said he is closing the door on testifying before the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. ... The Congress has no right to my testimony, Pence said. We have a separation of powers under the Constitution of the United States, and I believe it sets a terrible precedent for the Congress to summon a vice president of the United States to speak about deliberations that took place at the White House.

In the same interview, the Hoosier criticized Congress for not creating a non-partisan panel, in the spirit of the 9/11 Commission, to investigate what transpired.

Its difficult to even know where to start with such a position, but given the significance of the issue we are, after all, talking about an assault on our democracy that put Pences life in danger its worth appreciating in detail just how wrong he is.

The Congress has no right to my testimony. The phrasing is curious. The House select committee was created through the congressional legislative process, and approved through proper channels. This, in turn, gave it both official legitimacy and subpoena power, which has been endorsed by multiple federal courts. It has every right to expect the cooperation of witnesses who can shed light on the events surrounding the insurrectionist violence.

We have a separation of powers under the Constitution of the United States. Thats true, but what Pence neglected to mention is that he doesnt have any powers. The former vice president is a private citizen with no more official authority than any other private citizen.

I believe it sets a terrible precedent. First, theres ample precedent for constitutional officers from the executive branch testifying before Congress. Second, it also set a terrible precedent when Donald Trump tried to overturn the results of an election and deployed radicalized followers to attack our seat of government.

The Jan. 6 panel shouldve mirrored the spirit of the 9/11 Commission. Maybe so. In fact, congressional Democratic leaders endorsed just such a plan last year. Pence may be surprised to learn that it was his Republican allies who rejected this approach, even after Democrats agreed to the GOPs demands.

This need not be complicated. The former vice president has a critically important perspective about one of the most important events in American history. Hes been willing to share his thoughts on the matter in public appearances, in media interviews, in published op-eds, and even in his book.

But Pence is nevertheless refusing to speak to a bipartisan House panel that would benefit from his answers and his explanation to justify such cowardice simply doesnt make any sense.

Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MSNBC political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "The Impostors: How Republicans Quit Governing and Seized American Politics."

Link:
Mike Pence reverses course, spurns Jan. 6 committee questions

1. Mike Pence talks Trump, abortion, faith, the midterms and his political future  NPR
2. Mike Pence Is Asked If Trump Is A 'Good Man' And His Swerving Answer Says It All  Yahoo News
3. Former Vice President Mike Pence on his new book, 'So Help Me God'  KUNR Public Radio
4. Read NPR's full interview with former Vice President Mike Pence  WFYI
5. Former VP, ex-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence speaks on his future  FOX 59 Indianapolis
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

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Mike Pence talks Trump, abortion, faith, the midterms and his political future - NPR

Former Vice President Mike Pence stumped in North Carolina on Wednesday in the final days before the midterm elections with U.S. Senate candidate Ted Budd, calling him one of the "strongest conservative voices" in the House, where he's served for the past six years.

"Im here to say just one thing and one thing only, and that is that North Carolina and America need Ted Budd in the United States Senate," Pence said after he and Budd answered questions on the economy and education from state GOP chairman Michael Whatley before a few dozen Republican activists.

Earlier Pence attended a luncheon fundraiser for the Senate candidate, who is in a highly competitive race with Democratic rival Cheri Beasley. The race is one of several that could determine whether Democrats hold onto power in the narrowly divided Senate.

Pence became a leading target of former President Donald Trumps ire after refusing to help him block certification of Democrat Joe Bidens win while Pence served as the presiding officer of those formal proceedings on Jan. 6, 2021. The anger spilled over to Trump supporters, who considered him a turncoat.

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Budd condemned the violence that prompted Pence and lawmakers to rush to safety that day. Still, he voted against certifying the election hours later. Months later, he called the insurrection a "bad day for America," but also said it was "just patriots standing up."

Pence has become increasingly in demand among Republican candidates in the midterms an effort that is rebuilding his credentials within the GOP as he considers a 2024 presidential campaign. He's been portrayed as someone who can help other Republican candidates win support beyond Trumps voting base. Trump endorsed Budd for the Senate last year and has held two rallies this year to help his candidacy. Budd has said Biden is the elected president.

Pence called Budd a "man of integrity his family, his faith, his commitment to conservative principles is known far beyond the state of North Carolina."

Former Vice President Mike Pence, center, joins with North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley, left, and U.S. Senate candidate Ted Budd for a conservation at the state GOP headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Nov. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Gary D. Robertson)

Pence campaigned Tuesday with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who also refused to help the defeated president overturn the states results in 2020. And he recently campaigned for Arizona Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters, who embraced Trump and his false narrative about the last presidential election.

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During her own campaign event in Raleigh on Wednesday, Beasley said Budd shares the same "extreme" views as Pence when it comes to prohibiting abortion.

In the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to strike down Roe v. Wade, Beasley, a former chief justice of the state Supreme Court, has made protecting abortion rights a significant part of her platform.

Pence "recently said that he doesnt want to just make abortion illegal. He wants to make it unthinkable," Beasley said in a downtown park surrounded by several dozen supporters. "The only thing thats unthinkable is electing Ted Budd, who wants to take away our rights."

The question-and-answer session with Budd and Pence didn't touch on abortion, focusing instead on criticizing the Biden administration for policies they said have contributed to high inflation and gas prices. "Everything they have done has driven this economy into a ditch," Pence said. He and Budd didn't address the media after their event at state GOP headquarters.

Members of Congress have campaigned in person with Beasley in recent weeks but not Biden, who has low approval ratings in the state. Former President Barack Obama last week endorsed Beasley, who would be the first Black U.S. senator for North Carolina if elected.

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Budd has gotten in-person campaign support over the past week from U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

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Former VP Mike Pence visits North Carolina to support GOP Senate ...