Pence says 'Trump is wrong' to say then-vice president had the right to overturn 2020 election

CNN ^ | February 4, 2022 | Steve Contorno and Eric Bradner

[McGruff]

Former Vice President Mike Pence called out his former boss by name on Friday, saying that "President (Donald) Trump is wrong" in claiming that Pence had the right to overturn the 2020 election on January 6, 2021.

Speaking at the Federalist Society Florida Chapters conference near Orlando, Pence delivered his strongest response yet to Trump's ongoing efforts to relitigate the 2020 presidential election, calling it "un-American" to suggest one person could have decided the outcome.

Pence warned against conservatives who continue to insist the vice president can alter an election, and said it could be a problematic position for Republicans in the next presidential contest.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

If Trump ever endorses 30Pence, I’ll consider him.

Until then, he’s on the Bush, Cheney, Yeb!, Rubio list.

[Olog-hai]

Shakespeare. Julius Caesar, Act 2 Scene 2.

[Reddy]

He wasn’t asked to “alter” the election results, he was tasked to cause the results to be delayed so that the question of election malfeasance from many states could be resolved.

If the VP is mandated by the Constitution to certify the election, that means alternately that the VP has the power to not certify the election. Pence could have refused by asking for a delay, citing the legal issues surrounding the election that were winding their way through several state courts.

[Fledermaus]

He’s an idiot. He’s 100% wrong. Apparently he has never read the Constitution.

[rfp1234]

RINOS were part of the fix.

[conservativeimage]

Mr. Pants, you weren't being asked to overturn the election, you were being asked to tell the electors:

[The_Media_never_lie]

Did Pence say whether he thought it was a fair election? Seems like that would be an important point. Was his intent to ensure fair elections, or to call out President Trump?

[JJBookman]

Pence was a pivot of history and...

[DoodleDawg]

When did Trump say Pence could have overturned ?

His January 30th press statement - Link

[rrrod]

I think he was backed up by several scholars IIRC.

[DoodleDawg]

What I wanted was to INVESTIGATE the election, to have hearings, to bring in witnesses, etc to find out exactly what happened on election night and to hold off certifying the election til that was done.

And we're still waiting. With all the claims of overwhelming evidence I have yet to see charges filed, people arrested, trials conducted, convictions obtained, and people jailed. Why not?

[Jim Noble]

There were states with several delegations

False.

These were contested elections in those states

Also false.

[kempster]

Oh, it’s CNN. Total BS.

[DoodleDawg]

You could have allowed the objections to stand and call for an investigation.

But none of the objections passed the House and Senate.

[ransomnote]

There are mechanisms put in place to help rescue the country if an election is stolen. Pence is among those who believe those mechanisms can never be legitimately used. Therefore, there's no method to stop the steal - according to Pence's self-serving 'judgement'.

[Cboldt]

Best to have the difference strong and in the open.

[joshua c]

pence the walking/talking rubber stamp

enjoy your retirement, mike

[SgtHooper]

If Pence had no choice, what is the point of this senseless ritual!? When the term “must” is used, failure to do the act has consequences. The big question is, what are the consequences?

[Cboldt]

-- He is being deliberately disingenuous. --

He's a phony.

[taxcontrol]

Depends on what you mean by “overturn”.

The Vice President is tasked with reading the slate of electors provided to him by the different states. Can the VP simply disregard a slate or read multiple slates? That is the crux of the question. The current law does not say what constitutes a “authorized” slate. It also does not state what option the VP has for not reading the slates provided.

IOW, there is some “wiggle room” in the law for interpretation. It would be best for all parties if Congress would address and fix this so that the role of the VP is more clear.