Mike Pence Says Trump Conviction Sends a ‘Terrible Message’ and Divides Americans

‘The conviction of former President Trump on politically motivated charges is an outrage and disservice to the nation,’ Mr. Pence said.

(Left) Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks during the Republican Jewish Coalition's Annual Leadership Summit at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas in Las Vegas on Oct. 28, 2023. (Right) Republican presidential candidate former Vice President Mike Pence speaks during the Republican Jewish Coalition's Annual Leadership Summit at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas in Las Vegas on Oct. 28, 2023. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Former Vice President Mike Pence on Friday made his first public comments on the guilty verdict handed down to former President Donald Trump earlier in the week, joining a growing list of Republicans—including those that have been critical of the former president—in condemning the conviction as a political hit job.

“The conviction of former President Trump on politically motivated charges is an outrage and disservice to the nation,” Mr. Pence told Fox News on May 31, a day after a jury found the former president guilty of falsifying business records to hide non-disclosure payments, supposedly to sway the 2016 election in which he was a candidate and Mr. Pence his running mate.