Something Is Going on with Mike Pence

For a long time, I've repeatedly questioned why it is that Special Counsel Bob Mueller's investigation into collusion and corruption has seemingly not veered anywhere close to Vice President Mike Pence.

And, as far as we know, it still hasn't.

But something is going on with Pence; something, it seems, is about to come out about Pence.

Because yesterday, conservative commentator George Will penned a scathing column about Pence, in which he argued that Pence has exceeded Donald Trump as the worst person in government: "Trump is what he is, a floundering, inarticulate jumble of gnawing insecurities and not-at-all compensating vanities, which is pathetic. Pence is what he has chosen to be, which is horrifying."

And this morning, the Morning Joe crew — responding to an interview Pence gave to Andrea Mitchell, during which he said that he thinks it's time for Mueller to wrap up his investigation — went all in on Pence, comparing him to Richard Nixon's disgraced veep Spiro Agnew.

"I think it is a fair time to start asking this question: What did Mike Pence know and when did he know it?" Scarborough said. "Mike Pence says that General Flynn lied to him. Really? Did he? ...I mean, Mike Pence has been claiming that he was just out in the dark and that he was just this clueless, hapless Indiana hoosier that Donald Trump and the rest of the White House said nothing to. But you've just got to start asking yourself: If Mike Pence wants to kill an investigation that is pursuing how the Russians tried to undermine American democracy in 2016, my gosh, makes me sad to say this, Mike, but I guess we have to start asking the question why does Mike Pence want to kill this investigation? ...Was he lied to or is Mike Pence the one who has been lying to us all this time?"

The latter. That has long been clear. And Scarborough's feigned credulity is embarrassing — but that's entirely typical. What isn't typical is this sudden attack on Pence.

And it isn't just that Pence said it's time to wrap up the Mueller investigation, because Will's brutal column was published yesterday; he wrote it before Pence's "wrap it up" comments aired, and used Pence's praise of Joe Arpaio as predicate. Also, just the disgusted tone of the attack suggests something rather more serious than just yet another suggestion from a member of the Trump administration that Mueller end his inquiry.

Will and Scarborough are well-connected. I suspect they've heard something is coming out about Pence. Could be that Mueller is finally coming for him, which is *why* Pence said it's time to wrap it up.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) May 10, 2018

It could be that something is about to come out about Pence in the trial of Missouri Governor Eric Greitens. If so, I suspect that's only part of what's driving this sudden turning on Pence, because it's unlikely Pence went there on the Mueller investigation without a personal motivation. Pence never does anything that isn't centrally self-interested.

It's possible Pence is about to be exposed on multiple fronts.

I SURE HOPE SO.

Accountability for the relentless indecency of my former governor is long overdue.