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Vice President Mike Pence has hired outside legal counsel to help with both congressional committee inquiries and the special counsel investigation into possible collusion between President Trumps campaign and Russia.

The vice presidents office said Thursday that Pence has retained Richard Cullen, a Richmond-based attorney and chairman ofMcGuire Woods who previously served as a U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Pences decision comes less than a month afterTrump hired his own private attorney, Marc E. Kasowitz, to help navigate the investigations related to the Russia probe, and a day after the Washington Post reported that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III is now widening his investigationto examine whether the president attempted to obstruct justice.

I can confirm that the Vice President has retained Richard Cullen of McGuire Woods to assist him in responding to inquiries by the special counsel, said Jarrod Agen, a Pence spokesman, in an email statement. The Vice President is focused entirely on his duties and promoting the Presidents agenda and looks forward to a swift conclusion of this matter.

Cullen will not be paid with taxpayer funds, an aide said.Cullen referred questions to the vice presidents office.

The process of hiring a lawyer took several weeks and included interviews with several candidates, a Pence aide said. The vice president made his final decision earlier this week.

The vice presidents officesaid Pences decision to retain Cullen underscores his desire to fully cooperate with any inquiries related to the Russia probe, and is in line with what Trump has done in hiring Kasowitz.

Kasowitz has told some White House personnel that they dont need to hire their own lawyers, according to one person familiar with some of the legal discussions that have occurred inside the White House. But Pences move to hire an outside attorney could set off a scramble among other West Wing aides many of whom are already bracing for subpoenas to do the same, even if only as a protective measure.

Cullen, a former Virginia attorney general, served as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia under President George H. W. Bush and worked on President George W. Bushs legal team during the Florida recount in the 2000 presidential election.

His other high-profile clients have included Tom DeLay, the former Republican majority leader who was investigated by the Department of Justice for his relationship with Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff; Elin Nordegren, the ex-wife of Tiger Woods, in her divorce from the golf star; and former senator Paul Trible (R-Va.), during the Iran-Contra investigation.

Trump and the White House have long maintained there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians and more recently denied that the president in any way tried to obstruct justice.

As Trumps No. 2 and as head of the transition team, Pence has increasingly found himself drawn into the widening Russia investigation. Michael Flynn, Trumps former national security adviser, originallymisled Pence about his contacts with Russian officials incorrect claims that Pence himself then repeatedly publicly. The vice president was kept in the dark for nearly two weeks about Flynns misstatements, before learning the truth in a Washington Post report.

Trump ultimately fired Flynn for misleading the vice president.

There were alsonews reports that Flynns lawyers had alerted Trumps transition team that Flynn was under federal investigation for his secret ties to the Turkish government as a paid lobbyist a claim the White House disputes. And aides to Pence, who was running the transition team, said the vice president was never informed of Flynns overseas work with Turkey, either.

The president has come under further scrutiny for his decision to fire FBI Director James B. Comey, a decision Trump later seemed to imply was related, in part, to the Russia probe that Comey was then overseeing. At the time, Pence along with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, senior adviser Jared Kushner, Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and Counsel Donald F. McGahnII was one of thesmall group of senior advisers the president consulted as he mulled his decision.

A sitting vice president choosing to hire an outside lawyer is not without precedent. Spiro T. Agnew, Richard Nixons vice president, retained outside counsel when he came under investigation for charges of extortion, tax fraud, bribery and conspiracy. He ultimately resigned from the vice presidency in 1973, after pleading no contest to tax evasion.

Vice President Al Gore also retained outside counsel in conjunction with an inquiry into his fundraising activities, including several telephone calls he made from his White House office soliciting Democratic campaign contributions. But he never hired a counsel during the investigation and subsequent impeachment of President Bill Clinton.

And Vice President Dick Cheney consultedTerrence ODonnell, a partner at Williams & Connolly, on several issues during his time in the Bush administration.

Devlin Barrett and Alice Crites contributed to this report.

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Pence hires outside counsel to deal with Russia probe inquiries - Washington Post

Next month, Vice President Mike Pence will speak at an event called Christians United for Israel. Its a group founded by Pastor John Hagee, a man who has a long history of saying indefensible things.

Five years ago, Hagee argued that atheists should leave the country if they didnt like the fact that this was a Christian nation:

Theyre saying that the 10 Commandments have been taken out of the courtrooms and out of the schoolhouses lest we offend the atheists. Let me be very clear. This country was not built for atheists nor by atheists. It was built by Christian people who believed in the word of God.

To the atheists watching this telecast: If our belief in God offends you, move! There are planes leaving every hour on the hour going every place on planet Earth. Get on one! We dont want you, and we wont miss you, I promise you

Hagee has also said people should stay away from Harry Potter books, Ouija boards, and rock music because theyre all leading you to Satan. He doesnt believe people who support abortion and LGBT rights can be True Christians

Oh. And then there was the time he claimed Hitler was a hunter whom God sent to force Jews to return to Israel.

Those who came founded Israel; those who did not went through the hell of the Holocaust, he added. Then god sent a hunter. A hunter is someone with a gun and he forces you. Hitler was a hunter.

None of those comments, however, went too far for Mike Pence. Hes still doing the event. And, really, we shouldnt be surprised. He was happy to remain Donald Trumps running mate even after Trump bragged about sexually assaulting women (on top of all the other horrible things hes said and done).

Pence doesnt give a damn about any of it. Because hypocrisy and bigotry only matter when non-Christians do it.

(via Right Wing Watch. Thanks to @JaneyTheSmall for the link)

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Mike Pence to Speak at Event Run By Pastor Who Wants Atheists To Leave the US - Patheos (blog)

Vice President Mike Pence will speak at Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs later this month as part of the organizations 40th anniversary celebrations, continuing his ongoing support of the groups fierce pro-life stance and work against policies supporting the LGBTQ community.

He plans to speak about a range of issues that affect families in the United States, Allison Meggers, a Focus on the Family spokeswoman, said of Pences June 23 visit.

Meggers said the event will be closed to the public due to limited seating, though members of the media will be allowed to attend. The Gazette was first to report the speech.

The views of Pence and Focus on the Family have long been aligned, with the organization backing him on various contentious social issues.

Recently, Focus on the Family came to Pences defensein March after a Washington Post profile of the vice presidents wife, Karen, noted how he refrains when his spouse is not there from eating dinner alone with another woman or attending an event with alcohol. The revelation drew outrage from womens groups.

A post on the Focus on the Family website supporting Pence was titled, Mike Pence Is Right to Keep Boundaries around His Marriage.

Focus on the Family also supported Pence in 2015 when the then-Indiana governor was taking fire for signing into law theReligious Freedom Restoration Act, which gave business owners the ability to cite their religious views as a reason to refuse service to gay and lesbian customers.

Vice President Mike Pence has been a tireless advocate for families throughout his service in government, Focus on the Family President Jim Daly said in a written statement. Were honored to have him join us in marking 40 years of saving marriages in crisis, equipping moms and dads to thrive as parents, speaking to crucial policy issues and creating a culture of life in our nation.

Focus on the Family began in 1977 and has spread its message through its radio program. It has a sprawling campus in north Colorado Springs, where it is headquartered.

Originally posted here:
Mike Pence to speak at Focus on the Family event in Colorado ... - The Denver Post

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In Milwaukee, Pence pledged the GOP replacement for Obamacare will provide care for people with preexisting conditions with "no exceptions."

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Vice President Mike Pence and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker speak during a roundtable event at Direct Supply, a medical supply store at 6663 N. Industrial Road, Milwaukee, on Saturday. The discussion before the main hall remarks was with employees and local small business owners regarding repealing the Affordable Care Act. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Summary: Coverage of the DSHA-Brookfield Central soccer match. The winner wins the Greater Metro title. We need shots of the action to accompany story in the Wednesday paper. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Summary: VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE TO DISCUSS HEALTHCARE IN MILWAUKEE, WI On Saturday, June 10, Vice President Mike Pence will travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to meet with small businesses and job creators in the community. The Vice President, joined by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, will hear from local small businesses and their employees convening at Direct Supply, a medical supply store servicing the senior living industry. There, the Vice President will discuss the Presidents economic agenda and the repeal and replacement of Obamacare. The Vice President will conclude his visit with formal remarks.(Photo: Pat A. Robinson / for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)Buy Photo

One of the knocks on what some call "Trumpcare" is that,unlike Obamacare, it would not prohibit insurance companies from charging people more if they have preexisting health conditions.

At least, that's the case with the current version of the Republican replacement for Obamacare, which has passed the U.S. House of Representatives.

But in Milwaukee on Saturday, Vice President Mike Pence pledged:

"We're going to make sure that every American with preexisting conditions has access to the coverage and the care that they need -- no exceptions."

PolitiFact Wisconsin finds the promise is misleading if it's based on the House bill andit remains to be seen what the Senate will do.

Related fact check

Paul Ryan says: Before Obamacare, Wisconsins "high-risk pool" for health insurance "had eight or nine" plans to choose from, people "could go to any doctor or any hospital they wanted, and their premiums and co-pays were cheaper than they are under Obamacare today." Our rating: Half True.

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PolitiFact: Mike Pence on providing care for preexisting conditions with - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The Vice President called the ongoing collapse of Obamacare the death spiral one of the most pressing issues facing Americans today. This will be the North Star of our Administration, Pence said of improving the healthcare system.

We are going to repeal and replace Obamacare, he said, citing the broken promises of the Affordable Care Act.

While discussing the promise that premiums would go down, Pence referenced a report that revealed premiums have instead skyrocketed under Obamacare more than doubling for the average American.

While costs are soaringchoices are plummeting. Insurance companies are pulling out of Obamacare left and right, said Pence. A chart displayed above Pence read, Only 10 million enrolled, 28 million still uninsured.

He also referenced the 1.9 million Americans that signed up for plans on the Obamacare exchanges, but have not followed through on paying their premiums. This figure comes from a new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reportreleased on Monday, detailing the 10.3 million who have paid their premiums as of March 15, out of the 12.2 million who have signed up.

Pence described meeting Julie Champine on a recent trip to Wisconsin. He recalled her story of losing health insurance and her doctor while she faced health issues. She was forced to sign up for an Obamacare plan which in 2016 cost more than $9,000 in premiums for her family and carries a $13,000 deductible. Champines plan premium increased another $2,600 this year, said Pence. Julie told me that her Obamacare health insurance plan costs more than her mortgage and she cant even afford to use it, said Pence. A few months back she dropped her plan for a few months in order to afford Christmas presents for her kids.

Pence remarked how important the men and women who serve in U.S. Health and Human Services are and thanked them for their service.

HHS Secretary Dr. Tom Price said before introducing Pence, that the work of HHS goes beyond the border of the United States and recalled a recent trip to Liberia. He lauded U.S. efforts to beat back Ebola in Africa. Price remarked of the challenges Americans face when it comes to obtaining quality health care. He voiced the goal of getting us to a healthcare system where Americans can afford health care and health coverage. He spoke of stabilizing markets, opening up enrollment options and with the goal of installing a more patient-centered healthcare system.

The Affordable Care Act took a lot of power away from the states, added Price who said they are continuing to make progress on innovations.

In early May, health insurer Aetna pulled out of yet another states individual market, Virginia. CNN Money reported that the company cited massive losses under Obamacare as the reason why. Within days, Fox Business reported that Aetna would pull out of Obamacare exchanges completely by 2018.

After passing through the U.S. House of Representatives, the American Health Care Act sits waiting for a vote on the floor of the U.S. Senate. The bill is designed to roll back much of President Barack Obamas signature health insurance mandate. The bill has been presented as the first of several phases to dismantle Obamacare.

President Trump has often stated that Obamacare is in a death spiral under which healthcare premiums continue to skyrocket. He haspromised to repeal Obamacare.

Following his speech, the Vice President is traveling to the White House for lunch with President Trump and members of Congress. Afterward, Pence will join lawmakers for the Senate Republican Policy lunch and hold additional meetings.

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Mike Pence: Obamacare 'Death Spiral' One of Most Pressing Issues ... - Breitbart News