Mike Pence Dances Around Trump Pardon Question In Tense Interview

Republican presidential candidate Mike Pence on Wednesday would not commit to pardoning Donald Trump if elected, pressing conservative radio host Clay Travis on whether he knew all “the facts” about Trump’s indictment in a tense interview.

Travis, co-host of conservative talk radio’s “The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show,” repeatedly characterized the federal indictment of the former president as “political-based charges” and suggested Pence would agree with that assessment. (Pence previously said a potential indictment would be “extremely divisive.”)

But Trump’s former vice president, who formally announced his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination last week, said the charges are serious and that he couldn’t defend what was alleged in the 37 counts against Trump.

He then danced around the question of pardoning his old boss should he win the election.

“I just think it’s premature to have any conversation about that right now,” Pence said.

Travis argued that Trump’s prosecution would set an “awful” precedent, then pushed back at Pence.

“With all due respect, when you aren’t telling us what your decision would be, I think you’re dodging the question and, frankly, not stepping up on the front of leadership, which in the past you’ve been willing to do. So to me not answering is a no,” Travis said.

“Well, look, number one, I don’t think you know what the president’s defense is, do you? What are the facts? We either believe in our judicial process in this country or we don’t. We either stand by the rule of law or we don’t. What I would tell you is―” Pence fired back before the host interrupted him.

“What I’m hearing is you’re fine with Donald Trump being put in prison, sir, and that to me, since you were his vice president, feels pretty disrespectful,” Travis replied.

“I have a standard rule, I don’t talk about hypotheticals,” Pence said, laughing off the host’s remarks.

Related...

• Trump Ignored Lawyers Trying To Get Him Out Of Classified Documents Mess: Report

• Fox News Hits Panic Button As White House Criticizes Network On Live TV

• Gov. Greg Abbott's First Group Of Texas Migrants Arrives in Los Angeles