Former Vice President Mike Pence has a black cloud hanging over his head since the riot on January 6 at the Capitol.
Donald Trump called him out for not stopping the certification of the election, and he has never forgiven him for it.
And if Trump has not forgiven him, that means Trump’s supporters have not forgiven him.
Pence was reminded of that during a recent appearance.
Second Thoughts
Trump interpreted Pence’s role far differently than Pence and constitutional experts.
Trump believes that Pence had the power to halt the certification process, which was brought up during Pence’s recent appearance in Iowa.
A woman asked Pence, “Do you ever second-guess yourself? That was a constitutional right that you had to send those votes back to the states.
“It was not like you were going to personally elect him … You changed history for this country.”
Pence immediately shut down the narrative, saying that his role “continues to be misunderstood.”
The former VP continued, “Don’t take my word for it, go read the Constitution.
“Now really, I say this with great affection and respect — the Constitution’s very clear. … The Constitution says you open and count the votes, no more no less.
“No vice president in American history ever asserted the authority that you have been convinced that I had, and I want to tell you, with all due respect, I said before and I said when I announced, President Trump is wrong about my authority that day and he’s still wrong. I believe it with all my heart.”
Since then, Congress has passed clarification legislation to ensure the role of the VP could not be misinterpreted again, which Trump took as removing the power he believes that Pence had.
This issue, this very issue, is why Pence will find it very difficult to ever hold an elected office again.
Source: NBC News
