Former Vice President Mike Pence has spoken out about the criminal conviction of former President Donald Trump, calling it a “terrible message” for the country. Pence described the conviction as “politically motivated” and a “disservice to the nation.”
“The conviction of former President Trump on politically motivated charges is an outrage and disservice to the nation,” Pence stated. “No one is above the law, but our courts must not become a tool to be used against political opponents.”
Pence criticized the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, suggesting that the prosecution was driven by political motives. “To millions of Americans, this was nothing more than a political prosecution driven by a Manhattan DA who ran for office on a pledge to indict the former president, and this conviction undermines confidence in our system of justice,” he said.
He also expressed concerns about the international perception of the American justice system. “This conviction also sends a terrible message to the wider world about the American justice system and only further divides us at a time when the American people are struggling under the failed policies of the Biden administration at home and abroad,” Pence added.
Pence emphasized that Trump has the right to appeal the conviction and expressed hope for a reversal. “Having been convicted in a court of law, the former president has every right to appeal this conviction and I trust it will be overturned on appeal in a manner that will restore public confidence in our system of justice and equal treatment under the law,” he concluded.
Trump was found guilty on Thursday on all counts in his historic criminal trial, making him the first former president of the United States to be convicted of a crime. Following the verdict, Trump addressed reporters, denouncing the trial as rigged and the judge as corrupt. “This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. It wouldn’t give us a venue change,” Trump said. “We were at 5% or 6% in this district, in this area. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial.”
Trump suggested that the ultimate judgment would come from the voters on November 5. “The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people,” he declared.
Pence joins a number of Republicans who have defended Trump against the conviction. He has consistently voiced opposition to the indictment, describing it as unprecedented and politically charged. In March 2023, Pence told CNN, “I think the unprecedented indictment of a former president of the United States on a campaign finance issue is an outrage. And it appears to millions of Americans to be nothing more than a political prosecution.”
Pence remains proud of the achievements of the Trump administration, stating, “I’m incredibly proud of the record of our administration. It was a conservative record that made America more prosperous, more secure and saw conservatives appointed to our courts in a more peaceful world.”
