Rep. Greg Pence, R-Indiana, popped into a few eighth-grade Central Middle School social studies classes to answer questions about his new role as a first-term congressman.
Central Middle School Principal Jay Payne led the first-term congressman around the school, stopping by a couple eighth-grade social studies classes and allowing about 30 students to talk with Pence.
Pence, who went to Northside Middle School, took questions from the students about what it is like to be a member of Congress and showed them the ID card he uses to cast his votes in the U.S. House of Representatives.
He said after the visit that he hopes he was able to give the students “a little motivation.”
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During the 30-minute tour, Pence was led into a handful of classes, including Hilary Hilycord’s eighth-grade social studies class.
Payne introduced Pence to the class and then said, “You guys were just talking about treason, right?”
Pence quickly chimed in that “I get to vote on that kind of stuff.”
At the end of his tour, Pence and two staffers were led into the school’s library where he was asked questions by a group of students who work on The Charge, the school’s video news program. Then, the congressman was taken to a classroom for a question-and-answer session.
The students were shy at first, but then gradually began raising their hands and asking the congressman questions, including whether he has met any famous people.
One middle school student asked Pence about the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.
“I’m not for it,” Pence told the students, without any further explanation.
After meeting with the students, Pence said he believes the impeachment inquiry is a “witch hunt.”
“All we’re doing is trying to find a reason to accuse him of everything they’re trying to accuse him of, and, you know, the Mueller Report said there was nothing there. Now, we’re doing this,” Pence said. “So far, what we’ve seen, I haven’t seen anybody say, ‘Yes, there was a quid pro quo.’ I do not believe there was a quid pro quo. All they want to do is take the president down so they can win the House, win the presidency.”
On Thursday, Pence voted against a House resolution that authorizes the next phase of the impeachment inquiry against Trump.
In a 232-196 vote largely split along party lines, the House passed an eight-page resolution, which calls for open hearings and requires the House Intelligence Committee to submit a report outlining its findings and recommendation, with a final recommendation on impeachment left to the Judiciary Committee.
It was the third time in modern U.S. history that the House has formalized an impeachment inquiry against a sitting president.
The impeachment investigation is focused on Trump’s efforts to push Ukraine to investigate his Democratic political opponents by withholding military aid and an Oval Office meeting requested by the country’s new president, the The Associated Press reported.
At the center of the inquiry is Trump’s July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in which he asked for a “favor” — to investigate a Democratic rival for president, according to wire reports. Democrats say the request and other actions by the administration to push Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his family amounted to a quid pro quo for important military aid for Ukraine, providing sufficient grounds for impeachment, the The Associated Press reported.
“I think it is as some people say, you know, it’s a Soviet-style or Russian-style witch hunt,” Pence said. “I have read that transcript (of the phone call) as everybody has, and I don’t think it says anything. If you notice, none of my (Republican) peers voted for it either.”
If Trump is removed from office, Pence’s brother and Columbus native, Vice President Mike Pence, would be sworn in as president.
Additionally, the resolution authorizes the House Foreign Affairs Committee, of which Greg Pence is a member, to continue its ongoing investigation as part of the Trump impeachment inquiry.
The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Committees on Ways and Means, Financial Services, the Judiciary and Oversight and Reform also have been authorized to continue their investigations as part of the impeachment inquiry.
Currently, the three House committees leading the impeachment investigation are planning to begin releasing transcripts of closed-door interviews as soon as early this week, according to wire reports.
California Rep. Jackie Speier, a Democratic member of the Intelligence Committee, told CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday that she expects one more week of closed-door interviews before committees move into open hearings. It’s so far unclear who will be asked to testify or how many hearings will be held, according to The Associated Press.
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Visit pence.house.gov or call 812-799-5230 to contact Rep. Greg Pence’s office.
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