.@MitchellReports asks @VP if he thinks Bob Mueller’s investigation is a “hoax” pic.twitter.com/ec9kaiqN0t
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) May 10, 2018
On NBC's Today show, Andrea Mitchell asked Vice President Mike Pence if he believes the Russia investigation is a "hoax" like President Donald Trump maintains. He managed to dodge the question, not giving a definitive answer.
But while Pence did not indicate agreement with the president's assessment, he did suggest Special Counsel Robert Mueller cut the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and any ties to the Trump campaign and subsequent administration short.
“Our administration has been fully cooperating with the special counsel, and we’ll continue to,” Pence told Mitchell.
What I think is that it’s been about a year since this investigation began. Our administration has provided more than a million documents. We’ve fully cooperated in it, and in the interest of the country, I think it’s time to wrap it up.”
“And I would very respectfully encourage the special counsel and his team to bring their work to completion.”
Pence's comments regarding a Department of Justice open investigation, one concerning his own administration, drew criticism and some unfavorable comparisons. The person cited who said something quite similar to the vice president? Former president Richard Nixon.
After a year of the Mueller investigation, Pence says it's time to wrap it up. After a year of the Watergate inves… https://t.co/RRZ26shHsJ— Kevin M. Kruse (@Kevin M. Kruse) 1525955456.0
The ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, California Representative Adam Schiff also took exception to Pence's call for an end to the Russia probe prior to its completion.
Representative Schiff Tweeted Thursday:
"VP Pence has now brought his sycophancy to a whole new level."
With questions concerning which senior transition officials were aware of Flynn’s secret talks w/ Russian Ambassador still unanswered and new revelations every day, investigation must continue without his interference."
VP Pence has now brought his sycophancy to a whole new level. With questions concerning which senior transition off… https://t.co/VIVqr0hTng— Adam Schiff (@Adam Schiff) 1525956043.0
Schiff was not alone in taking the vice president to task for his remarks.
@RepAdamSchiff Pence copied Nixon almost word for word https://t.co/iSNxUDBmzm— Kelly Jameson (@Kelly Jameson) 1525957332.0
Mike Pence acted in concert with / in coordination with Russia's propaganda arm, WikiLeaks by reading the e-mails (… https://t.co/n6G8U5422T— ☇RiotWomenn☇ (@☇RiotWomenn☇) 1525955642.0
Will the media please stop parroting the Trump regime nonsense that Mike Flynn "lied" to Pence? Pence knew. Pen… https://t.co/wTnyCaNzt9— ☇RiotWomenn☇ (@☇RiotWomenn☇) 1525956013.0
Oh, well, he said "respectfully"! https://t.co/K83TWsRLiy— Crooks and Liars (@Crooks and Liars) 1525961523.0
Watch Pence mimic Nixon, almost word for word. This investigation has mirrored Watergate in so many ways... Except… https://t.co/lYwoUv9n23— 🌊🇺🇸✌Kymbalaya (@🌊🇺🇸✌Kymbalaya) 1525962865.0
Now Pence is plagiarizing Nixon. Anybody have an original thought in this WH? #MorningJoe— 🍺HereHoldMyBeer🍺 (@🍺HereHoldMyBeer🍺) 1525957055.0
Pence channels & parrots Spiro T. Agnew, shamed VP of Richard Nixon who had to resign. He said identical words as P… https://t.co/RivTYqg0Kz— Elizabeth C. Reilly (@Elizabeth C. Reilly) 1525957753.0
so pence is plagiarizing Nixon? not the best political strategy I'd think. https://t.co/vWfWfOkgjO— Gerilynn Tarvin (@Gerilynn Tarvin) 1525962467.0
"One year of Watergate is enough" — Nixon, 1/30/1974 SOTU Mike Pence is our truly deplorable Ace of Hearts.… https://t.co/1EY312Tmom— KNOW YOUR DEPLORABLES! (@KNOW YOUR DEPLORABLES!) 1525962147.0
Pence steals material from Nixon...at least Melania is more current in stealing from Michelle Obama!… https://t.co/cRM8IW1HyJ— Proud Air Force Veteran (@Proud Air Force Veteran) 1525962820.0
@thehill Since @VP @mike_pence is old enough to remember Nixon, he knows damned well Mueller isn't nearly finished.… https://t.co/t2dMedGXGk— Major Havoc, human scum✌ 🆘️ (@Major Havoc, human scum✌ 🆘️) 1525958126.0
@thehill MSNBC did a comparison between videos of Pence and Nixon. The pleas for wrapping up the investigations are… https://t.co/JLEdLCkUxW— Leonard James (@Leonard James) 1525957523.0
@LCARS_24 Funny how history repeats itself. Simply substitute Ford and Nixon for Pence and trump.— Derwood (@Derwood) 1525957213.0