Pencey says that a New York Times report claiming he is readying for a 2020 run is “disgraceful and offensive.”
He just released a statement on it:
My statement regarding the absurd @NYtimes article. pic.twitter.com/htvYSbS2dy
— Vice President Pence (@VP) August 6, 2017
Eh. This is easily deniable even if it were true. Given all the legal troubles Trump is in, wouldn’t it be foolish of Pence to ignore it all?
IN any case, people are pointing out that he used official White House channels for the statement, which hints that Trump saw the report and forced Pencey to deny it publicly….
Here’s Pencey’s Press Secretary:
https://twitter.com/VPPressSec/status/893899261485699074
And Pencey’s Chief of Staff:
.@alexburnsNYT @jmartNYT print total lie in #fakenews article. Said I've "signaled to multiple donors @VP wants to be ready for 2020" (cont)
— Nick Ayers (@nick_ayers) August 5, 2017
…Yet they are unable to name one donor that has ever heard me say that…because I haven't. #shameful #fakenews https://t.co/j3CZQIPFH2
— Nick Ayers (@nick_ayers) August 5, 2017
Here’s what the NY Times said:
“…multiple advisers to Mr. Pence have already intimated to party donors that he would plan to run if Mr. Trump did not.”
“Though it is customary for vice presidents to keep a full political calendar, he has gone a step further, creating an independent power base, cementing his status as Mr. Trump’s heir apparent.”
Hmmm…