Rep. Greg Pence backs brother amid criticisms from Trump

Rep. Greg Pence (R-Ind.) voiced support for his brother, former Vice President Mike Pence, as he faces criticism from former President Trump and others for saying he did not have the authority to overturn the 2020 election results. 

During his speech at a Federalist Society event in Florida last Friday, Pence rejected the notion that he had the authority to overturn the 2020 election results, saying that “President Trump is wrong.”

CNN reporter Manu Raju asked the Indiana Republican if he agreed with his brother’s comments, to which the congressman replied, “I’ll stand by my brother now and forever. I love my brother. I’ll stand by him.”

Pence said in the speech that he had heard “that President Trump said I had the right to ‘overturn the election.'” referring to a statement released by the former president in late January. 

“President Trump is wrong. I had no right to overturn the election,” Pence continued. “The presidency belongs to the American people, and the American people alone. Frankly, there is almost no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American president.”

Trump issued an uncharacteristically measured response to his former vice president, but still criticized Pence as he continued promoting baseless claims about the election. 

“Just saw Mike Pence’s statement on the fact that he had no right to do anything with respect to the Electoral Vote Count, other than being an automatic conveyor belt for the Old Crow Mitch McConnell to get Biden elected President as quickly as possible,” Trump said in a statement through his Save America PAC later Friday night.

“Well, the Vice President’s position is not an automatic conveyor if obvious signs of voter fraud or irregularities exist,” he added. 

Republican leaders were largely silent following Trump’s claims that vice presidents can overturn presidential elections. 

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) who has been a leading Trump critic within the party, called it a “massively un-American statement” in a tweet.

“It is time for every Republican leader to pick a side… Trump or the Constitution, there is no middle on defending our nation anymore,” he wrote. 

The Hill has reached out to Pence’s office for further comment.