Ohio Republican Senator J.D. Vance revealed during a Fox News interview that former President Donald Trump's campaign is asking potential vice presidential picks whether they've committed any "crime"—which is ironic because Trump himself would be disqualified on those parameters.
During Monday's broadcast of Fox & Friends, co-host Steve Doocy mentioned hearing that some potential vice presidential candidates had been asked to "submit documents" for vetting.
He asked Vance:
"You're not at that level yet. Or are you?"
Vance, who is speculated to be a contender for the role, responded that his team had been asked for various documents but emphasized that many people had likely received similar requests:
"They've asked us for a number of things. I think a number of people have been asked to submit this and that."
Doocy then asked:
"Like your taxes or something? Your criminal record?"
Vance replied:
"I don’t know everything they’ve been asked. Yeah, but certainly like, ‘Have you ever committed a crime?’ ‘Have you ever lied about this?’ Certainly, you have those conversations, but I think a lot of people have those conversations.”
You can hear what Vance said in the video below.
Vance's reveal came after Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes. A New York jury last month found him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels to illegally influence the 2016 election. His sentencing is set for July 11.
This means Trump himself would not qualify to be his own vice-presidential pick, as noted by former Biden White House Press Secretary and current MSNBC host Jen Psaki, who said Trump "could not pass his own vetting materials for Vice President."
Others quickly pointed out that the irony was off the charts.
Vance previously secured Trump's endorsement during his Senate campaign and is considered one of Trump's strongest allies in Congress, openly supporting Trump's claim of absolute immunity, which is currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court. A decision on the matter is expected later this month.
Trump has reportedly been considering Vance as a potential vice-presidential candidate, with plans to announce his running mate early in the summer before the Republican convention.
In a recent Fox News Sunday interview, Vance said he has "never spoken" to Trump about being his running mate. He did, however, state he would seriously consider the role if asked.
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