Mike Pence Attempts To Distance Himself From Growing Trump Scandal

[TomCADem]

Source: Huffington Post

Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday offered a curious statement in response to that morning’s release of emails showing that the eldest son of President Donald Trump met with a Kremlin-linked lawyer in 2016 intending to obtain damaging information on Hillary Clinton.

The carefully worded response from Pence’s press secretary Marc Lotter attempts to absolve the vice president of any responsibility and involvement. It makes a point of mentioning that Donald Trump Jr.’s June 2016 meeting ― which was also attended by Trump’s then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner ― took place before Pence joined the presidential ticket.

“The vice president is working every day to advance the president’s agenda,” the statement from Pence’s office says. “He was not aware of the meeting. He is also not focused on stories about the campaign ― especially those pertaining to the time before he joined the campaign.”

In an interview in January, Pence denied that there were any ties between Trump campaign officials and Russian officials. “Well, of course not,” Pence told CBS’ John Dickerson. “And I think to suggest that is to give credence to some of these bizarre rumors that have swirled around the candidacy.”

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mike-pence-donald-trump-jr_us_5965054be4b09b587d6278b6

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Given that the source of the original NYT story was from the Trump administration, you have to wonder whether it was from folks tied to Pence.

[lapucelle]

1. Mr. Pence admits that he

“...is working every day to advance the president’s agenda.” And just what might that agenda be, darlin'?

[LiberalLovinLug]

11. Yes, the word "agenda" is a dirty word if it is used to describe a liberal ideal.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Purge Pence First. Ban Bannon. Flay Flynn. Jab Jared. Turf the Turd Reich. . . nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Pence lied about not knowing Flynn's Russian ties. Got a reg'd letter early in Transition he led. nt

[BigMin28]

4. It doesn't matter when

He joined the campaign, or what happened before or after. He joined. He stayed. And he has pushed the agenda and lied. No matter the reason. He is just as tainted as the rest of this regime. You can't easily wash that off .

[Solly Mack]

5. Won't work with anyone who has been following the whole story.

Anyone that claims Pence is somehow a dupe is lying.

Pence knew.

[DonCoquixote]

6. the wheels on the bus go round and round

Under them trump will be ground
and the jebbus freaks who love mike will make a sound
Halllelujah!

[tavernier]

23. You do know that there are Christians here at DU

who are sensitive to your right to believe whatever you choose, right?

Please be a bit more mindful of the fact that we here come in all shapes, sizes, colors and religions, and appreciate respect from fellow members.

[DonCoquixote]

28. yes, but we know who backs Pence.

And sadly, many of those folk were and are silent when it comes to gay rights and abortion rights, even trying to turn us away from them, so that we can go to the center.

I was not attacking the Xtian Duers, who come in all shapes from MLK to RBJ to HRC, BUT, if they try to defend their 'friends" as we give them the scolding they deserve, they cannot be surprised when we ask whose side they are on.

[southerncrone]

7. He still has the stink all over him by association.

[SergeStorms]

20. The Trump "taint".

Now there's an image that could require decades of psychoanalysis to scrub from your mind.

Once acquired, the Trump "taint" cannot be easily removed. Carrying that onerous burden around with you could lead to madness, perhaps death.

I fear Pence is already afflicted with the "taint", and that the prospect of inheriting the Presidency from 45 would never live up to his expectations. Being 46 with the "taint" of 45 all over it would be a hollow victory, certainly nothing of which to be proud.

Poor Pence. It looks as if god might have forsaken him.

[southerncrone]

29. Here in the South, we'd say:

"Taint nuttin' worse than the Trump Taint!"

Pence deserves to be tainted. He certainly isn't Presidential material, either. The saddest part is our COUNTRY has been tainted, too.

[onetexan]

8. bizzare rumors?

Nothing could be more bizzare than the con man and his ilk stalking the halls of the WH right now. Pence is setting himself up to slip into the POTUS role once Agent Orange is forced kicking and screaming out of office, and hopefully to a jail cell where he'll rot.

[Julian Englis]

9. Indiana Wants Me But I Can't Go Back There?

[mobeau69]

13. Indiana doesn't want his ass back.

He's more dangerous than dump.

[southerncrone]

30. Excellent! Perfect!

Haven't heard that song in years!

[Cryptoad]

10. I have noticed,,,,

less and less Rethugs rushing to defend Comrade Trump and family!

[Doug the Dem]

12. Pence can't swim, so.....

[disalitervisum]

14. Jumping ship, yes indeed

What a great indicator of character, not to mention christian values.

Don't our present problems have something to do with character?

Yea, I thought so.

[TomCADem]

18. White House denies tensions between Trump, Pence staff

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/340381-white-house-denies-tensions-between-trump-pence-staff

The White House on Saturday denied reports of rifts developing between aides to President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, calling the reports "simply not true."

On Friday, McClatchy cited a half-dozen Republicans who spoke of growing tensions between the two staffs, and who said the two groups are "walled off" in the White House.

"There is clearly tension between the two staffs," a former Trump adviser told McClatchy. "There's so much Internet chatter. That's going to fuel the animosity."

“It doesn’t cause them any discomfort when the president gets bad news,” another former campaign official said.

[TomCADem]

19. NY Times - Pence to Replace His Chief of Staff

Plausible deniability with Pence letting go of his Chief of Staff before all the leaks went out? Or, perhaps payback?

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/29/us/politics/mike-pence-josh-pitcock-chief-of-staff.html

WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff will depart the White House in the coming weeks and will be replaced by a long-serving aide, in the first major staff change of his office, officials said on Thursday.

Mr. Pence’s chief of staff, Josh Pitcock, will be replaced by Nick Ayers, a veteran political operative from Georgia who has been working with the vice president for three years. Mr. Ayers was the chief political strategist for Mr. Pence, then the governor of Indiana, when President Trump chose the governor as his running mate.

Until Thursday morning, Mr. Ayers had been seen as a potential contender for governor of Georgia in a crowded field. He had been urged to think about running by some of Mr. Trump’s allies, according to The Atlanta Journal Constitution.

More recently, Mr. Ayers has been one of the leaders of an outside group supporting the White House, America First Policies, which had been preparing a series of ads criticizing Senator Dean Heller, Republican of Nevada, for his anticipated no vote on the Senate’s bill to replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

[blaze]

22. Anyone opting to join this administration now.... just wow. nt

[Ilsa]

15. I've wondered if Pence's chief of staff is a leaker

out of the WH, and one of several sources.

[nikibatts]

16. Don't let him. He lied and he is an enabler of the treasonous Trumps as are the rest of the GOP

[TrogL]

17. Pence's Vice-Presidency is poisoned fruit

He cannot hope to ascend to the Presidency unsullied.

[HughBeaumont]

21. Roses are Red, Violets are picked,

If Trump was in on it
So was that dick.

[Hugin]

24. Didn't Manafort arrange Pence as Trumpsling's VP pick?

Something about plane trouble and dinner, if I recall.

Someone refresh my memory.

[Coventina]

25. Fuck you Pence.

Too late.

You will be forever linked to the vulgar talking yam.

[Bleacher Creature]

26. I would like to distance myself from Mike Pence. Nt

[Yonnie3]

27. Hey Pence, did you ever hear of accessory after the fact?

"Someone who assists another 1) who has committed a felony, 2) after the person has committed the felony, 3) with knowledge that the person committed the felony, and 4) with the intent to help the person avoid arrest or punishment. An accessory after the fact may be held liable for, inter alia, obstruction of justice."

You did lie about the Russia connection.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/accessory_after_the_fact