Mike Pence defends Trump and expresses 'deep concern' over FBI's Mar-a-Lago raid
- Mike Pence expressed "deep concern" over the FBI's search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago property.
- Pence decried "the appearance of continued partisanship by the Justice Department."
Former Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday defended Donald Trump after FBI agents raided the former president's personal residence at Mar-a-Lago.
"I share the deep concern of millions of Americans over the unprecedented search of the personal residence of President Trump," Pence wrote on Twitter. "After years where FBI agents were found to be acting on political motivation during our administration, the appearance of continued partisanship by the Justice Department must be addressed."
Countless Republican Party figures, including potential 2024 hopefuls, have condemned the FBI for searching the grounds of Trump's "Winter White House" reportedly in pursuit of evidence on whether Trump improperly handled classified information when he took White House documents with him after leaving Washington on January 20, 2021.
But Pence's words are notable as it's a show of support after months of public back and forth over his refusal to follow Trump's unconstitutional push to overturn the 2020 election. Some of Pence's former aides have also testified to the House January 6 committee that Trump did not express concern for his vice president's safety as rioters ransacked the Capitol and some shouted that they wanted to hang Pence.
Trump has also disputed former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony that he expressed some approval for the pro-hanging chants.
Like other Trump administration officials, Pence has been openly testing the ground for a 2024 run. Pence and Trump have issued endorsements for opposing candidates in key midterm races. The Wisconsin gubernatorial primary tonight is one of those contests.