Mike Pence will not appeal a judge’s order that he testify before a federal grand jury scrutinizing attempts by former President Donald Trump and his supporters to subvert President Joe Biden’s victory before the insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, a spokesman for Pence said last week.
That is welcome news. Pence is demonstrating a refreshing respect for the rule of law. Aside from being the right thing to do, it also sets a good example.
As Pence’s hometown newspaper, The Republic on numerous occasions in this editorial space has encouraged the former vice president to testify truthfully and fully about the events leading up to Jan. 6. We have stated that is simply the principled thing to do. And we have said we believe that Pence, his life having been placed in imminent danger for fulfilling his role as a public servant, owes his sworn testimony to the American people and to history.
We take these positions not because we believe that testifying is the right thing for Pence or his political ambitions. That does not and should not enter into it. Rather, we take these positions because we believe in respect for the rule of law. Without a recommitment to this fundamental American value, our nation faces increasingly deeper peril.
We believe that no one should be considered above the law, no matter their office, rank, social status, wealth or privilege. Not even a former president or a former vice president. We also realize that this is an awfully idealistic position to take — some might say naive — given the multitude of examples to the contrary throughout our nation’s history. You probably have a beef with the judicial branch. Most of us do. Charles Dickens once wrote, “The law is an ass,” and we’ve probably all felt that way at one time or another.
That said, imperfect as the system is, we believe that truth and equality before the law should be our justice system’s guiding principles. These beliefs have repeatedly put to the test in recent years as examples of our system’s inequities sometimes have been on outrageous display.
Americans have been losing trust in institutions for years, and our justice system is no exception. Otherwise, we wouldn’t coin popular phrases like “some people are more equal than others.” Or “we have the best justice system money can buy.” Or books full of lawyer jokes.
But jokes aside, disrespect for the rule of law is a rampant social ill, and that isn’t just tragic for our nation. It’s also dangerous.
Disrespect for the rule of law reached a historic crescendo on Jan. 6, 2021, when Pence and members of Congress, assembled to peaceably carry out their constitutional duty under the law, literally had to run for their lives as a criminal mob ransacked the Capitol, some shouting, “Hang Mike Pence.”
Americans must trust in the rule of law as the only means we have to ensure that such a thing never happens again.
We have praised Pence for his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, because we believe he upheld his oath under relentless, unprecedented pressure. But Pence’s duties are not yet done. By testifying fully, truthfully and completely, Pence will have an opportunity to restore some faith in the rule of law and, as he did on Jan. 6, put our country first.
