Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday evaded a question regarding the peaceful transition of power after the election, echoing comments President Donald Trump has previously made.
His remarks came during the vice presidential debate where he was asked by debate moderator Susan Page what his role would be if Trump refused to acknowledge a potential win by Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
“First and foremost, I think we’re going to win this election,” Pence responded, citing Trump’s handling of the military, economy and appointments of conservative judges to the bench. He went on: “But when you talk about accepting the outcome of the election, I must tell you, Senator, your party has spent the last three and a half years trying to overturn the results of the last election. It’s amazing.”
Although several Democrats and former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton have personally rejected the results and questioned the legitimacy of the electoral college (she won the popular vote), there was no major legal to overhaul the results.
He then referenced the Russia investigation, which has been a frequent target of Trump’s, and cited the Mueller report which found evidence of foreign election interference, but no proof that the Trump campaign worked in tandem with the country.
“We’ve all seen the avalanche, what you put the country through for the better part of three years until it was found there was no obstruction, no collusion, case closed,” Pence said of the Mueller probe. “And then, Sen. Harris, you and your colleagues in the Congress tried to impeach the President of the United States over a phone call.”
He went on, “And now Hillary Clinton has said to Joe Biden, in her words, under no circumstances should he concede the election.”
Clinton did say that, but added that it was because she thinks “this is going to drag out, and eventually I do believe he will win if we don’t give an inch and if we are as focused and relentless as the other side is.”
Pence then briefly attacked mail-in voting, but ended his time slot without ever addressing Page’s question about what he would do if Trump attacked the validity of the election results.
