Mike Pence reportedly making plans to form a political committee and run for president
Washington, February 3 (RHC)-- Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is said to be making plans to form a political committee, signaling his intention to remain a relevant political player after serving in the Trump administration. NBC News says Pence will announce the move in the coming weeks.
The political committee would be a 501(c) 4 organization that is allowed to participate in politics through purchasing ads, for example. These types of organizations are classified as social-welfare nonprofits, according to the IRS, and must not spend more than half of their funds on political ventures. The goal of the 501(c)4 would be to outline and push Pence's "consistent conservative philosophy," an unnamed source told NBC News.
By starting a 501(c) 4, Pence would be able to maintain significant relationships with GOP donors that might prove beneficial for future campaign-related ventures, NBC News reported.
After attending President Joe Biden's inauguration, Pence and his wife, Karen, were seen vacationing in St. Croix. Since then, the two appeared to be couch surfing through Indiana. As Business Insider's Tom LoBianco reported, a Trump advisor said Pence had neither a home nor a job after leaving office.
Before Pence left the White House, tensions were high between him and President Donald Trump. Ahead of the January 6 congressional process to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election, Pence faced mounting pressure from Trump and GOP lawmakers to overturn the results. "I hope Mike Pence comes through for us, I have to tell you," Trump said at a Georgia rally days before the certification was to take place. "Of course, if he doesn't come through, I won't like him quite as much," Trump added.
Throughout the four years of Trump's term as president, Pence was fiercely loyal to him. Pence, however, defied Trump's wishes and did not seek to overturn the results of the election, which he had no legal authority to do in the first place. The decision led to tension between Pence and Trump that could affect the outcome of a 2024 run.
