Pence is set to launch US presidential bid on June 7

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
1 Jun 2023 00:02

Former Vice President Mike Pence will launch the 2024 presidential candidacy campaign on June 7 to join the presidential nomination race against former US President Donald Trump.

Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks to local residents during a meet and greet, Tuesday, May 23, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP)

With a campaign video and a kickoff speech in Des Moines, Iowa, former US Vice President Mike Pence is set to announce his presidential candidacy campaign on June 7.

Pence, who has served under former US President Donald Trump, is set to join the presidential race for the Republicans at a time when Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are also running for the upcoming Presidential nomination.

Pence will begin his campaign in Iowa and will visit all counties. According to a person familiar with Pence's upcoming plans, he said Iowa is "a place that values Mike Pence's principles — traditional conservative principles — deep-rooted faith and uncommon character."

It is worth noting that earlier in March, Pence made it clear that he opposed the Capitol Hill attack of January 6 and said history would "hold him [Trump] accountable" for his role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.

Mike Pence testifies in Trump insurrection probe: Reports

Pence testified, earlier in April, in the federal inquiry looking into his ex-boss Trump's involvement in the 2021 assault on the Capitol, as per media reports.

Pence testified before a grand jury in Washington that might decide whether to file charges against the former President and his advisors for their role in the attempt on January 6, 2021, to overturn the presidential election results that saw Joe Biden becoming President.

Pence's testimony had been challenged by Trump's legal team, who claimed that the President had the right to silence Pence due to executive privilege during his time in office.

It is worth noting that Pence was the focal point of the January 6 riots because he was scheduled to preside over the US Congress as a whole to officially declare Biden as the winner of the November 2020 presidential election.

At the time, Trump had adamantly and repeatedly encouraged Pence to refuse to carry out the certification, using unsubstantiated allegations of widespread voter fraud and flimsy legal defenses.