When the Iran-Contra scandal emerged during the Reagan Administration, and wide-spread skullduggery was apparent, then-Vice President George H.W. Bush claimed that he “was not in the loop.” A curious public found his denial to be most disingenuous, given his foreign policy expertise and background as former CIA chief. His likely complicity notwithstanding, the White House kept him somewhat insulated, thus reinforcing plausible deniability. Lo, and behold, George H.W. Bush was victorious in the 1988 presidential election and later went on to pardon former Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger, Elliott Abrams, a former assistant secretary of state for Central America; former National Security Adviser Robert McFarlane; and former CIA officials Duane Clarridge, Alan Fiers, and Clair George, for their roles in the Iran-Contra Affair, thus undermining justice and obscuring the truth. Ollie North was convicted on multiple counts, but has his charges vacated. William Casey, CIA Director, took his plentiful and damning secrets to the grave.
History has a funny way of repeating itself. Vice President Michael R. Pence, the “Boy Scout” of the Trump Administration and titular head of Trump’s transition team, will very likely claim, one day soon, that he also “was not in the loop.” Pence, like former VP Bush, also has presidential ambitions. A President Pence would likely usher in a faith-driven form of governance that would run head on into the so-called “establishment clause” of the Constitution. While the prospects for a second Trump term diminish daily, Pence’s ascendancy, either as a result of Trump’s impeachment, removal, or resignation, is a very real possibility. Even if Trump were to finish his term and decline to run in 2020, Pence would be the GOoPer’s go-to candidate, hands-down. That is, unless fate plays its hand in the interim.
We don’t know exactly what is in Robert Mueller’s cross-hairs at the moment, aside from political collusion, obstruction of justice, money laundering, and violations of the emoluments clause. One would hope, however, that an appropriate amount of investigative scrutiny is being reserved for Mr. Pence.
Never mistake piety and mild manner for a lack of guile and subterfuge.