Pence Lawyers Up

Attorney Formerly Representing Tom DeLay

Vice President Mike Pence has hired outside legal counsel, a white collar defense attorney whose previous clients include former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and “Scooter” Libby, former Vice President Dick Cheney’s Chief of Staff.

Richard Cullen, chairman of the McGuireWoods law firm, will “help with both congressional committee inquiries and the special counsel investigation into possible collusion between President Trump’s campaign and Russia,” the Washington Post reports.

Less than one month ago, President Donald Trump obtained private counsel, Marc Kasowitz, who infamously told White House staffers “who had asked whether it was time to hire private lawyers that it was not yet necessary,” the New York Times reported this week.

Just 24 hours ago news broke that President Donald Trump is under criminal investigation for obstruction of justice. Trump spent a good portion of the day tweeting in anger about that and other related issues.

“I can confirm that the Vice President has retained Richard Cullen of McGuireWoods to assist him in responding to inquiries by the special counsel,” Pence spokesman Jarrod Agen told the Post. “The Vice President is focused entirely on his duties and promoting the President’s agenda and looks forward to a swift conclusion of this matter.” 

Writer and researcher Sarah Kendzior in late May wrote that Pence “lied about whether Trump had said more countries should have nuclear weapons” and “lied about Trump saying he wanted to punish women who had abortions.”

He lied about Trump defending dictators. He lied about Trump doing business with Russia. Every time his opponent, vice-presidential candidate Tim Kaine, brought up a statement by Trump—a public, documented statement, the veracity of which Americans could easily validate—Pence did not embellish. He simply smiled and lied.

Seven months later, Pence is still lying, only now the lies have become more dangerous. Today, Americans face a dual threat from Pence: first, in his capacity as vice president and as a key player in an administration rife with scandal and possibly treasonous activity; and second, as the potential inheritor of the tarnished presidency as talk of impeachment accelerates. Mike Pence spent months trying to hide the truth about Donald Trump. It is important that Americans do not make the same mistake with Pence.

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Image by Gage Skidmore via Flickr and a CC license