But Trump may stand to gain from the discovery of Pence’s documents. The former president leapt to Pence’s defense this week, calling him “an innocent man” who “never did anything knowingly dishonest in his entire life.” It was a change in tone for Trump, who has castigated his former vice president repeatedly in the years since Pence refused to go along with Trump’s attempts to throw out the results of the 2020 election.
But others see it as splitting the presidential field into two groups: those who are facing legal jeopardy over the issue and those who aren’t. “Candidates who emerge who are not caught up in this embarrassing or potentially legally harmful situation have won the day,” In his reply to the National Archives, sent Jan. 22, Pence lawyer Greg Jacob wrote, “the Vice President has requested that I convey his thanks to you for your responsiveness and professionalism throughout your handling of this matter.”