MIAMI (AP) — Former Vice President Mike Pence said Friday he takes “full responsibility” after classified documents were found at his Indiana home.
In his first public comments since the discovery, Pence said he had no idea the document was in his home but admitted a lack of awareness was not an excuse.
“Let’s be clear: Those classified documents should not be in my house,” Pence said at Florida International University, where he was speaking on the economy and promoting his new book, “So Help Me God.” “Mistakes were made, and I take responsibility.”
The findings made public by Pence’s team earlier this week mark the latest in a string of sensitive paper recoveries from the homes of current and former US officials. The Justice Department has been investigating the discovery of classified documents at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and at President Joe Biden’s Delaware home and former Washington office.
Pence’s public acceptance of responsibility for his handling of the document marked a reaction from Trump, his former boss, and Biden in their respective cases. Trump denounced the Mar-a-Lago search as “one of the most egregious abuses of power by any administration in American history” and suggested without evidence that investigators Biden said he was surprised to learn the documents had been discovered but had “no regrets” about the information being shared with the public.
The discovery of documents at Pence’s home comes five months after he told The Associated Press that he did not take confidential notes when he left the vice presidency. “No, not to my knowledge,” he said when asked if he had that information.
The comment – which would normally be unremarkable for the former vice president – was noted at the time given that FBI agents have seized confidential and top secret information from Trump’s Florida estate on August 8 while investigating potential violations of three different federal laws. Trump said the documents seized by the agents were “all classified”.
Pence said he decided to search his home “out of an abundance of caution” after recent disclosures by Biden’s team that documents were found at his former office and at his Delaware home.
He said he has advised the National Archives, the Justice Department and Congress to cooperate fully with any investigation.
The former vice president said national security depends on the proper handling of classified documents, but he hopes people know he’s acting quickly to correct the mistake.
“We act above politics and prioritize national interests,” he said.
Pence, who has distanced himself from Trump after the January 6, 2021 rebellion at the US Capitol, is considering a 2024 White House challenge against his former boss, who announced his campaign in November. Biden has said he wants to run for re-election in 2024, though he hasn’t officially started a campaign yet.
Referring to the White House bid, Pence said he had described the challenges facing the country. He said many of the achievements have been “dismantled” by the Biden administration, pointing to immigration and economic issues.
“We’re giving strong consideration to what we’re going to do next,” he said. “I will continue to travel across this country. I will continue to listen and think.”