Inspired by a ProPublica story in April that described how nursing homes and their pharmacies nationwide throw away hundreds of tons of valuable medicines — and how one Iowa nonprofit successfully recycles them — two states are working to create similar programs.
It has been two years since a crowd of Donald Trump supporters built a gallows on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol and began chants of "Hang Mike Pence." For the first time, Pence on Wednesday addressed Jan. 6 in more detail than he has previously in speeches to the public.
Pence explained to a crowd in Iowa that he followed the law and stayed true to the Constitution and the oath of office. Reporters even noted that the password to the wifi at the event was "KeptHisOath!"
Pence, who has previously written about the day in his book, began his speech by quoting former President Calvin Coolidge as a possible slight at Trump: "It is a great advantage to a President, and a major source of safety to the country, for him to know that he is not a great man." Pence told the crowd, "This I know."
"I must tell you, we as Americans have had our fill of politicians who present themselves as great men and women," said Pence. "The last place we ought to look for deliverance is to our government. ... Now, while some in this contest have taken to criticizing the record of the Trump-Pence administration, let me be clear, I'm incredibly proud of everything we accomplished for the American people.
"Together in three short years, we cut taxes, we destroyed ISIS, stood with our allies, and stood up to our enemies as never before. We made the strongest military in the history of the world stronger than ever before. We gave historic prosperity at home that lifted all Americans, regardless of race or creed or color. We achieved energy independence. And maybe, and maybe most important of all, it was our administration that appointed three of the justices that sent Roe v. Wade to the ash heap of history where it belonged."
He then said "from my heart" that he always promised the American people and to "Almighty God."
"Jan. 6th was a tragic day in the life of our nation. But thanks to the courage of law enforcement, the violence was quelled, and we reconvened the Congress the very same day to complete the work of the American people under the Constitution of the United States," Pence continued.
"As I've said many times, on that fateful day, President Trump's words were reckless. They endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol. But the American people deserve to know that on that day, President Trump also demanded that I choose between him and the Constitution. Now voters will be faced with the same choice.
"I chose the Constitution. And I always will. Four years earlier. I swore an oath, a hand on my Bible and Ronald Reagan's bible, to support and defend the Constitution. The Bible says He keeps his oath even when it hurts. And I know something about that."
The comment came from David's Paslm 15:4. David asks God who belongs in his "tent" or on his "mountain." It reads, "whose tongue utters no slander; who does no wrong to a neighbor; and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person; but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts..."
Pence went on to cite Article 2 Section 1 of the Constitution, which says that the president of the Senate, the vice president, "shall, in presence of the Senate and the House, open all the certificates and the votes shall be counted."
Pence explained, "Despite the fact that the Constitution's language is clear and provides the vice president with no authority to reject or return electoral votes, my former running mate continues to insist that I had the right to overturn the election. But President Trump was wrong then, and he's wrong now. I will always believe by God's grace I did my duty that day. I kept my oath to ensure the peaceful transfer of power under the Constitution of the United States of America."
he said that he understood the disappointment Republican voters felt in the 2020 outcome, but he still had no power to overturn the election, just as Vice President Kamala Harris will have no power to overturn an election as president of the Senate.
"Finally, let me say to my countrymen, I'll always be grateful for what President Trump did for this country," Pence explained. "I've often prayed for him over the past few years. I prayed for him again today. I had hoped he would come around and see that he had been misled about my role that day. But that was not to be."
He also said that anyone who puts themselves over the Constitution doesn't deserve to be president and anyone who says they should put themselves over the Constitution "should never be elected again."
See the video below or at the link here.
Mike Pence takes down Trump while playing the nice guywww.youtube.com
The United States House of Representatives Committees on House Administration and Oversight and Accountability held a hearing on Wednesday morning called American Confidence in Elections: The Path to Election Integrity in the District of Columbia, in which lawmakers alleged that election laws in DC lead to fraud.
But as Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) pointed out, the Republicans' argument is a red herring.
"The Heritage Foundation's election fraud cases database identifies zero instances of voter fraud in Washington DC since 1979," Raskin said. "That's no election fraud in the nation's capital in the last forty-four years and DC's very strong pro-voter, pro-registration policies are clearly conducive to election integrity and have not led to any episodes of voter fraud that I'm aware of, but perhaps, the majority has some in mind."
Raskin blasted his colleagues for what he sees as a nakedly partisan attack on democracy in the nation's capital.
00:02
02:3
"The only plausible reason for this legislation today is for people who really know nothing about local Washington DC beyond Capitol Hill, to use DC as a whipping post, a Guinea pig, and a sacrificial lamb in their effort to constrict the vote and depress participation nationally with this hearing," Raskin stated.
"Our friends in the GOP have moved from the macro suppression of representation, voting rights, and political voice in Washington," Raskin added, "to the micro suppression of local voting rights to keep people from even getting to the polls to cast ballots for candidates for the few offices that DC residents are actually allowed to fill this bill's unnecessary, unfair, undemocratic, and unworthy of this body."
A former aide to Donald Trump was asked about statements made by the former president during testimony to a federal grand jury on Wednesday.
Taylor Budowich confirmed on Wednesday that he appeared before a grand jury in special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into the mishandling of classified documents.
According to NBC's Ken Dilanian, Budowich was asked about a specific statement Trump made.
"We have some new reporting from our colleagues, Vaughn Hilliard and Laura Jarrett, who say that he testified, Budowich did, about an hour in front of that grand jury and was asked about a specific statement that former President Trump made denying that he had taken classified information," Dilanian told MSNBC later on Wednesday.
Dilanian said the significance of the questioning was not clear.
Although Budowich was bitter about the appearance, he insisted on Twitter that he "answered every question honestly."
Copyright © 2023 Raw Story Media, Inc. PO Box 21050, Washington, D.C. 20009 | Masthead | Privacy Policy | Manage Preferences
For corrections contact corrections@rawstory.com, for support contact support@rawstory.com.
