Pence, who is now running for the Republican presidential nomination against his former boss, was responding to a question from co-host Jonathan Karl on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday.
Karl reminded Pence about his vote to expel then-Rep. James Traficant (D-Ohio) from Congress in 2002 when he was a member of the House, after Traficant had been convicted on 10 felony counts of bribery, tax evasion and racketeering.
If Trump were convicted on any of the 91 criminal charges he currently faces across four cases, Karl asked, “Would you hold that same standard for the White House?”
Pence first explained his Traficant vote. He said it’s Congress’ function “to determine membership where there’s ethical violations” and called the Traficant case “really quite outrageous.”
Then he answered the question:
“But if you’re saying would I, would I apply that to my former running mate in this race, look, I think that needs to be left to the American people.”
“Look, let’s have the former president have his day in court,” Pence continued. “Let’s maintain a presumption of innocence in this matter and in the other matter that unfolded this week here in Georgia.”
Pence previously argued Trump is “entitled to his day in court” in the wake of his second indictment in June.
The former vice president has qualified for both the first and second GOP debates, though his “former running mate” has indicated that he plans to “NOT BE DOING” them at all.
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