Former Vice President Mike Pence has released a statement regarding Trump’s recent conviction.

In a statement to Fox News, Pence stated, “The conviction of former President Trump on politically motivated charges is an outrage and disservice to the nation.”

“No one is above the law, but our courts must not become a tool to be used against political opponents,” added Pence.

Pence continued, “Having been convicted in a court of law, the former president has every right conviction to appeal this  , and I trust it will be overturned on appeal.”

Former Vice President Mike Pence called Trump's conviction an “outrage” that “further divides us,” jumping to the defense of the former president. https://t.co/7g3WPivBug

— The Hill (@thehill) June 1, 2024

Here’s what Fox News reported:

Former Vice President Mike Pence reacted on Friday to the criminal conviction of former President Donald Trump in a New York City courtroom and said a “terrible message” has been sent.

“The conviction of former President Trump on politically motivated charges is an outrage and disservice to the nation,” Pence told Fox News Digital.

“No one is above the law, but our courts must not become a tool to be used against political opponents,” Pence continued. “To millions of Americans, this was nothing more than a political prosecution driven by a Manhattan DA who ran for office on a pledge to indict the former president and this conviction undermines confidence in our system of justice.”

“This conviction also sends a terrible message to the wider world about the American justice system and only further divides us at a time when the American people are struggling under the failed policies of the Biden administration at home and abroad,” he added.

"Outrage and disservice": Mike Pence blasts Trump conviction as political prosecution https://t.co/UWr2WEt2j9 Trump was singled out by the democrats. They have more dirt than trump.

— Sandra Miller (@SandraMill94885) June 1, 2024

Per The Hill:

Former Vice President Mike Pence called the conviction of his ex-boss, former President Trump, in his New York hush money case an “outrage” that “further divides us,” jumping to the defense of the man he’s declined to endorse in this year’s presidential race.
“The conviction of former President Trump on politically motivated charges is an outrage and disservice to the nation,” Pence told Fox News Digital. “No one is above the law, but our courts must not become a tool to be used against political opponents.”

Pence echoed Trump’s criticisms of the case, calling it a “political prosecution,” and said he trusts the conviction will be overturned on appeal.

“This conviction also sends a terrible message to the wider world about the American justice system and only further divides us at a time when the American people are struggling under the failed policies of the Biden administration at home and abroad,” Pence said.

Trump became the first former president to be convicted of a felony on Thursday, when a jury in Manhattan found him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in a case related to a hush money payment made in 2016.