Justice Department Will Not Indict Former Vice President Pence For Handling Classified Documents

The US Department of Justice has informed former Vice President Mike Pence’s legal team that it will not file criminal charges related to the discovery of classified documents at his Indiana home.

The department sent a letter to Pence’s attorney Thursday to inform his team that, after an investigation into possible mishandling of classified information, no criminal charges will be filed. A Justice Department official confirmed the authenticity of the letter, which was obtained by The Associated Press.

The news comes days before Pence is set to launch his campaign for the Republican nomination for president in Iowa on Wednesday, a contest that will put him in direct competition with his former boss, former President Donald Trump.

No evidence ever emerged to suggest that Pence intentionally hid any government documents or even knew they were in his home, so it was never expected that the former vice president would face charges. But the administration’s decision and timing are nonetheless good news for Pence’s political team ahead of his entry into the 2024 race.

Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed special counsel to oversee the Justice Department’s investigation into Trump’s handling of classified documents, as well as Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, just three days after for Trump to formally launch his 2024 campaign, an acknowledgment of the high stakes politics.

Documents with classified marks were discovered at Pence’s home in January after he asked his lawyers to search his vice-presidential belongings. The items, which were immediately turned over to the FBI, “were inadvertently packaged and transported” to Pence’s home at the end of the last administration, Pence’s attorney, Greg Jacob, wrote in a letter to the National Archives.

The FBI discovered an additional document with classified markings in the Indiana home during a search the following month.

Beyond Pence, special counsel to the Justice Department continues to investigate the handling of classified documents found in the homes or offices of both Trump and President Joe Biden, when he was vice president.

The status of the investigation of the Biden documents is unclear, but the Trump investigation has shown signs of waning. Prosecutors appear close to making a decision on whether to bring criminal charges against the former president or anyone else.

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