Trump reacts to report Pence won’t face charges for classified documents: ‘I’m at least as innocent as he is’

Former vice president is expected to launch a campaign for the White House in the coming weeks

Former president Donald Trump raged at a report from CNN that The Department of Justice will not charge former vice president Mike Pence for any potential mishandling of classified documents.

The former president made the remarks on Truth Social.

“That’s great, but when am I going to be fully exonerated, I’m at least as innocent as he is,” he said. “And what about Joe Biden, who is hiding at least 1850 boxes, and some located in Chinatown, DC? When will the witch hunt against “TRUMP” stop?”

The department sent a letter saying it will not charge Mr Pence after the former vice president’s attorney found classified documents in his home in Indiana. Mr Pence had asked his attorney to search his home after news reports that President Joe Biden had classified documents at his own personal residence.

Mr Pence immediately turned the documents over to the FBI and the bureau and the Justice Department launched an investigation into how the documents landed in Mr Pence’s home.

The news comes as Mr Pence prepares to launch his own bid for president this month, putting him in direct conflict with former president Donald Trump, as he hopes to challenge Mr Biden.

The department is still investigating Mr Biden’s handling of classified documents and Mr Trump’s potential mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida. Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed special counsels to investigate both matters. Special Counsel Jack Smith is investigating Mr Trump’s potential mishandling, as well as other federal probes, while Robert Hur is investigating Mr Biden.

Advisers to the former vice president say that Mr Pence’s discovery of documents contrasted with Mr Trump’s, since he immediately notified the National Archives and turned the documents over while Mr Trump resisted turning them over, which led to a subpoena and the FBI executing a search of Mar-a-Lago.

Earlier this week, CNN reported that prosecutors had received a recording from the summer of 2021 of Mr Trump acknowledging that he held onto a classified Pentagon document about launching an attack on Iran.

Mr Pence is expected to launch his campaign on 7 June and will also take part in a CNN town hall.