Pence's Actions: Lawful Or Unlawful?

Former Vice President Mike Pence has been accused of breaking the law on several occasions. In 2020, Pence visited his and Donald Trump's reelection campaign team in Arlington, Virginia. He posted a photo on Twitter showing himself giving a double thumbs-up to a group of people crowded together in an office, none of whom were wearing masks. This violated Virginia's COVID-19 physical distancing guidelines and mask mandate, which were in place at the time. Pence deleted the photo soon after posting it.

Pence has also been accused of breaking the law in relation to the January 6 Capitol riots. On January 6, 2021, Pence's refusal to illegally intervene to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election led to a rift with Trump, who publicly denounced him as a coward. Pence was criticized by Trump and threatened with violence by some of Trump's supporters for not trying to overturn the election results. However, Pence's actions in certifying Biden as the winner were in line with his duties as President of the Senate and did not break any laws.

Pence has also been criticized for his anti-LGBTQ+ policies and rhetoric, his environmental policies, and his handling of the HIV outbreak in Southern Indiana. However, these actions do not appear to have broken any laws.

Did Pence break COVID-19 laws?

In October 2020, several senior aides to then-Vice President Mike Pence tested positive for COVID-19, including his Chief of Staff Marc Short, top political aide Marty Obst, bodyman Zach Bauer, and spokeswoman Katie Miller. This outbreak marked the latest in a series of COVID-19 cases in the White House, which included President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, their son Barron, and numerous aides and associates.

Despite the outbreak among his staff, Pence continued to campaign ahead of the upcoming presidential election. On October 26, he addressed a rally in Kinston, North Carolina, and was scheduled to travel to Hibbing, Minnesota, the following day. In the week prior, Pence had travelled to over half a dozen states, holding 12 campaign rallies and two private events.

Pence's decision to continue campaigning drew criticism from infectious disease experts and Democratic challenger Joe Biden. Harvard epidemiologist Dr. John Brownstein stated that Pence "clearly meets the CDC definition" of COVID-19 exposure and should have quarantined for 14 days. Infectious diseases expert Dr. Sandra Nelson advised that "anytime there is a cluster" of infections in an office, "the entire office [should] transition to remote work for 14 days." Biden accused the Trump administration of having "given up on even trying to control [the] pandemic" and "given up on their basic duty to protect the American people."

In response to the criticism, the White House cited Pence's status as an "essential worker" and stated that he had been cleared to travel by White House doctors. Press Secretary Devin O'Malley said in a statement that Pence would not be quarantining and would instead continue his campaign schedule.

Did Pence break laws by refusing to overturn the 2020 election results?

On January 6, 2021, then-Vice President Mike Pence was pressured by then-President Donald Trump and his supporters to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Trump and his allies had pursued an unprecedented effort to overturn the election results, with support from his campaign, proxies, political allies, and supporters. This effort culminated in the January 6 Capitol attack by Trump supporters in an attempted self-coup d'état.

Trump and his allies used the "big lie" propaganda technique to promote claims that had been proven false and conspiracy theories asserting the election was stolen by means of rigged voting machines, electoral fraud, and an international conspiracy.

Trump urged Pence to intervene and illegally prevent Congress from certifying the election results. However, Pence had no authority to do so. The Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution requires the President of the Senate, which was Pence for the January 6 certification of the presidential election, to supervise the counting of electoral ballots at a joint session of the Congress.

Pence repeatedly stated that the Vice President has no such authority and that his oath of office constrained him from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not. Pence ultimately oversaw the certification of Biden and Harris as the winners of the election.

Therefore, Pence did not break any laws by refusing to overturn the 2020 election results.

Did Pence break laws by refusing to invoke the 25th Amendment?

On January 6, 2021, then-U.S. Vice President Mike Pence refused to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from office. This came after Trump supporters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol, with Trump himself encouraging his supporters to protest the allegedly stolen presidential election.

The 25th Amendment allows for a transfer of power from the president to the vice-president, either temporarily or permanently, if the former is deemed unfit to govern. Pence, a lawyer by training, said he did not believe that invoking the 25th Amendment was in the best interest of the nation or consistent with the Constitution. He also stated that the 25th Amendment was not a means of punishment or usurpation and that invoking it would set a terrible precedent.

While Pence's refusal to invoke the 25th Amendment was not illegal, it did draw criticism from various quarters. Senator Chuck Schumer, for instance, urged Pence and the Cabinet to invoke the amendment, failing which Congress should reconvene to impeach the president. Pence also faced criticism from those who believed his extreme deference to Trump made him an obsequious enabler of a volatile president.

In the aftermath of the Capitol riots, Pence's actions during his final days in office included overseeing the certification of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the winners of the election, and committing to a smooth transition of power to the incoming administration.

Did Pence break laws by supporting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation?

Mike Pence, the former vice president of the United States, has been accused of supporting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and stoking anti-LGBTQ+ hate. As a politician, Pence has a long history of controversial actions and statements regarding the LGBTQ+ community.

In 2015, as governor of Indiana, Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) into law. The Act was widely criticised for being discriminatory towards the LGBTQ+ community, and for condoning discrimination by businesses. Although Pence eventually approved changes to the law to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, the damage was already done. The state of Indiana lost more than $60 million in economic damage due to the backlash, and Pence's reputation suffered a significant blow.

Pence has also been vocal about his opposition to same-sex marriage. In 2014, a federal judge struck down Indiana's ban on same-sex marriage, and Pence challenged this ruling. He also expressed disappointment in the Supreme Court's ruling on marriage equality, stating that he believes marriage is between one man and one woman.

In addition to his opposition to same-sex marriage, Pence has a history of voting against legislation that would protect the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination. He voted against The Employee Non-Discrimination Act, which would have prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. He also opposed hate crime protections based on gender identity, claiming there was no evidence of such crimes occurring.

Pence has also been an advocate for abstinence-only education and has cut public health funding, which contributed to the worst outbreak of HIV and AIDS in Indiana's history. He has also signalled support for conversion therapy and opposed State Department training that required officials to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

During his time as vice president under the Trump administration, Pence continued to support anti-LGBTQ+ policies. He attended a church service where the pastor made derogatory statements about the LGBTQ+ community, and he opposed workplace protections for LGBTQ+ Americans. The Trump administration also took steps to ban transgender Americans from serving in the military and cut funding for HIV and AIDS research.

While Pence has not been explicitly charged with breaking the law, his support for anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and his own actions have been widely criticised as discriminatory and harmful to the LGBTQ+ community. His actions as governor of Indiana and vice president have had negative consequences for the LGBTQ+ community, and his views are considered by many to be out of step with the average American's views on freedom and equality.

Did Pence break laws by supporting anti-abortion legislation?

Mike Pence, a lawyer and politician, served as the 48th vice president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. He is known for his conservative views and strong anti-abortion stance. While he was governor of Indiana, Pence signed several bills into law that restricted abortions, including one that prohibited abortions if the reason for the procedure was the fetus's race, gender, or disability. This particular law was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge and never went into effect.

Pence's support for anti-abortion legislation has continued during his vice presidency and subsequent presidential bid. He has advocated for a federal ban on abortion at six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant, and has called for the removal of a widely used abortion pill from the market. Pence's position on abortion is influenced by his evangelical Christian beliefs, and he argues that restricting abortion is "more important than politics."

While Pence's anti-abortion stance has earned him praise from religious conservatives, it has also drawn criticism and concerns from doctors and women's rights advocates. Some doctors argue that banning abortions in cases of nonviable pregnancies or fatal fetal anomalies is cruel and puts women's lives and mental health at risk. Additionally, women's rights advocates worry about the impact of such restrictions on women's autonomy and access to safe and legal abortions.

In conclusion, while Pence's support for anti-abortion legislation aligns with his conservative values and appeals to his religious base, it is a divisive issue that raises ethical, legal, and medical concerns. As a vice president and influential political figure, Pence's stance on abortion has significant implications for reproductive rights and women's health in the United States.

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