As Pence plays president-in-waiting, he's hiding private emails in Indiana
Vice President Mike Pence continues to obstruct efforts to access the private email account he used to conduct official Indiana business while he served as that state’s governor. Over 50 pending requests for records during Pence’s tenure are being held up, some of them are over 10 months old. USA Today reports, “Pence still hasn’t […]
Over 50 pending requests for records during Pence’s tenure are being held up, some of them are over 10 months old. USA Today reports, “Pence still hasn’t provided all of his emails from private accounts that he used to conduct state business.” And when Pence has provided those documents to the state, they have been in paper form rather than digital, “making them difficult to search in response to public records requests.”
Gerry Lanosga, former president of Indiana Coalition for Open Government, told the paper, “I think it’s pretty clear that there is some foot-dragging going on here.”
The inquiries are an attempt to uncover the contents of Pence’s communications across a spectrum of controversial issues he promoted as governor. These include the so-called “Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” which would have allowed businesses to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation; the HIV outbreak that developed in the state after Pence cut funding to Planned Parenthood; and Pence’s role in the spread of lead poisoning in East Chicago, Indiana.
Pence used the private AOL email account, which was compromised and hacked, while he was hypocritically attacking Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server — which was never compromised.
The effort to keep this information out of the public eye is occurring as Pence and his political allies are pushing the falsehood that he is disconnected from the multiple scandals enveloping the Trump administration, when in reality Pence is a central figure in the Trump-Russia investigations. Some Republicans have been floating the idea that Pence could easily take over the role of president if Trump is removed from office.
Despite these attempts at separation and distance, Pence has already demonstrated his willingness to emulate Trump and his penchant for secrecy and deception.
Once again, the evidence shows the two men aren’t that different.
Recommended
Biden calls for expanded child tax credit, taxes on wealthy in $7.2 trillion budget plan
President Joe Biden released his budget request for the upcoming fiscal year Monday, calling on Congress to stick to the spending agreement brokered last year and to revamp tax laws so that the “wealthy pay their fair share.”
By Jennifer Shutt, States Newsroom - March 11, 2024Biden rallies Democrats in Las Vegas: ‘Imagine the nightmare’ if Trump reelected
With a primary win all but inevitable, President Joe Biden used his Sunday appearance in Las Vegas’s Historic Westside to rally his most vocal supporters in a battleground state that delivered for him four years ago.
By April Corbin Girnus, Nevada Current - February 05, 2024UAW delivers rousing presidential endorsement for Biden over ‘scab’ Trump
The United Auto Workers of America endorsed the re-election of President Joe Biden Wednesday, just months after he became the first sitting U.S. president to walk a picket line with striking autoworkers in Michigan.
By Ashley Murray, States Newsroom - January 24, 2024