Page 3 - aruba-today-20220818

A3
U.S. NEWS Thursday 18 augusT 2022

Pence tells GOP to stop lashing out at FBI over Trump search

By HOLLY RAMER chief of staff, Marc Short,
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — agreed to testify in private
Former Vice President Mike in December 2021 after
Pence on Wednesday im- receiving a subpoena.
plored fellow Republicans Short was at the Capitol on
to stop lashing out at the FBI Jan. 6 and accompanied
over the search of Donald Pence as the then-vice
Trump's Florida home and president fled the Senate
denounced calls by some chamber and hid from riot-
of the former president's al- ers who were calling for his
lies to defund the FBI, say- hanging.
ing that was "just as wrong" In Short's recorded testi-
as a push by Democratic mony, aired at the com-
activists to shift money from mittee's public hearings this
police. summer, he described at-
Pence also said he would tending White House meet-
give "due consideration" if ings before the insurrection
asked to testify before the during which Trump allies
House committee investi- discussed ways to overturn
gating the riot at the U.S. the results of the 2020 elec-
Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. tion.
His pleas for restraint come At one point, Trump had
as law enforcement offi- banned Short from the
cials warn of an escalating Former Vice President Mike Pence gestures during the "Politics and Eggs" breakfast gathering, White House grounds be-
number of violent threats Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022, in Manchester, N.H. cause Short objected to
targeting federal agents Associated Press the pressure on Pence to
and government facili- reject the legitimate elec-
ties since agents last week hold the attorney general tried to capitalize on the he would engage with the tion results. Committee
searched Mar-a-Lago as accountable for the deci- search by portraying it as House committee investi- members so far have not
part of the Justice Depart- sion he made without at- an act of political persecu- gating the insurrection if decided to seek Pence's
ment's investigation into tacking the rank-and-file tion and an attack on the the panel requested his testimony, saying that Short
the discovery of classified law enforcement person- rule of law. testimony. and former Pence lawyer
White House records recov- nel at the FBI," he said at For the onetime political al- "If there was an invitation Greg Jacobs have provid-
ered from Trump's estate the Politics & Eggs event, a lies, their paths diverged on to participate, I would con- ed investigators with plenty
earlier this year. breakfast gathering at St. Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob sider it," Pence said, adding of evidence.q
Speaking in New Hamp- Anselm College for business of angry Trump support- he would first reflect "on the
formal certification of Joe "It would be unprecedent- ARUBA
shire, Pence said he has leaders that has become a ers stormed the Capitol in unique role" he was serving
been troubled by what he customary stop for White an effort to stop Congress' as vice president.
called the politicization of House hopefuls in the early-
the FBI. He also said the voting state. Biden's presidential victory. ed in history for a vice presi- CLEAN
Justice Department and "The Republican Party is the Trump denounced his vice dent to be summoned to
Attorney General Merrick party of law and order," president, who was pre- testify on Capitol Hill, but
Garland should be more Pence continued. "Our siding over the Senate, for as I said, I don't want to
forthcoming about what party stands with the men refusing to object or delay prejudge," he said. "If ever
led authorities to conduct and women who stand the certification — some- any formal invitation was
the search. on the thin blue line at the thing Pence had no power rendered to us, we'd give it
But Pence, who is trying to federal and state and local to do. A fake gallows was due consideration."
stake out his own political level, and these attacks on constructed on the Na- A committee spokesper-
path as he and Trump both the FBI must stop. Calls to tional Mall, and people son declined comment on
consider 2024 presidential defund the FBI are just as who broke into the Capi- Pence's remarks.
campaigns, also had a wrong as calls to defund tol chanted, "Hang Mike The committee and
message for the GOP. the police." Pence! Hang Mike Pence!" Pence's team have had an IS MORE
"I also want to remind my Trump and some other Re- Before Wednesday, Pence open line of communica- DUSHI
fellow Republicans, we can publican lawmakers have had refused to say whether tion since Pence's former