Pence: I’m ‘confident’ in Trump’s health pick

Vice President-elect Mike Pence says he has faith that Donald Trump’s nominee for Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary has not deceived him or the president-elect.

Reports emerged Monday that Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) invested in a medical device manufacturer last year, shortly before introducing legislation to benefit the company.

“I’m confident that we were not,” Pence said Wednesday on MSNBC’s “MTP Daily” when asked if Price had “misled” him and Trump. “Tom Price is a man of tremendous integrity.”

{mosads}Pence said available evidence would clear Price of any unethical behavior during his ongoing confirmation hearing.

“Well, I think the facts are very clear here. And I expect they’re coming out today in the course of his hearing that the stock that was purchased was purchased by a stock broker without any knowledge of Dr. Price.”

Pence added both that he and Trump are excited by how Price’s medical knowledge could shape on their policies.

“I can tell you the president-elect and I couldn’t be more enthusiastic that someone with his background in medicine, but also his understanding of the president-elect’s vision for healthcare reform and his ability to help us shape what that replaced bill looks like once we repeal ObamaCare,” he said of President Obama’s healthcare law.

“I think it’s going to be a great service to the nation,” added Pence, the former GOP governor of Indiana. “We’re going to repeal and replace [ObamaCare] at the same time.”

Price reportedly bought between $1,000 and $15,000 worth of shares in Zimmer Biomet, a leading manufacturer of hip and knee replacements, last March.

The Georgia lawmaker then introduced the HIP Act days later, delaying a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regulation that industry analysts say would have dearly hurt the company financially.

Trump’s transition team has dismissed such reports, however, insisting a broker made the investment and Price was unaware of it until after the legislation was introduced.

Democrats have seized on the allegations, meanwhile, to attack Price during the confirmation process by insinuating he may have engaged in insider trading.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), for example, said Tuesday Price may have broken the law if he knew about the investment.

“[It] cries out for an investigation,” he said of the situation on CNN. “I think there’s a very good chance [Price] will not be confirmed.”