Mike Pence Got Bad Advice About Electoral College Certification, Trump Says

Former President Trump criticizes former Vice President Pence for receiving "very bad advice" regarding his role in certifying electoral votes.

In a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, former President Donald Trump expressed his belief that former Vice President Mike Pence received "very bad advice" regarding his role in the certification of electoral votes. The once-strong relationship between the two men deteriorated following Congress's certification of electoral votes on January 6, 2021, due to a disagreement over the constitutional authority of Vice President Pence in the process.

President Trump and his legal team argued that Vice President Pence had the power to reject electoral votes from states where allegations of widespread election fraud existed, citing the 12th Amendment and the Electoral Count Act of 1887. Conversely, Vice President Pence's lawyers, aligning with the Democrats, contended that his role was purely ceremonial and that he could not exercise discretion in accepting or rejecting electoral slates.

During his conversation with Tucker Carlson, President Trump asserted that Vice President Pence had the right to send the votes back to state legislatures for further review. He criticized the notion of Pence being a mere "human conveyor belt" and disagreed with the Democrats' perspective on the matter. President Trump highlighted that several lawyers supported his position, suggesting that Vice President Pence could have returned contested electoral slates due to concerns of fraud.

Moreover, President Trump drew parallels to the election of 1800, where then-Vice President Thomas Jefferson presided over the certification of electoral results despite being a candidate himself. This historical precedent, according to John Eastman, a prominent advocate for expansive vice presidential power in certifying electoral results, supported the notion that Vice President Pence had the authority to reject certain electoral slates.

President Trump expressed his disappointment with Vice President Pence's decision and attributed it to receiving misguided advice. He recalled a meeting where his lawyer and other legal advisors held differing opinions on the matter. Despite their disagreement, President Trump maintained that he had cordial relations with Vice President Pence, although they had not spoken much recently.

President Trump also mentioned the Electoral Count Act of 2022, passed by the lame duck 117th Congress, which explicitly defined the vice president's role as purely ceremonial. He interpreted this change as further evidence supporting his belief that Vice President Pence possessed the power to reject electoral slates.

Overall, President Trump's interview with Tucker Carlson shed light on his perspective regarding Vice President Pence's role in the certification of electoral votes. Despite their differences on this issue, President Trump emphasized that he maintained a cordial relationship with Vice President Pence, although their communication had been limited in recent times.