Trump attorney says former president didn’t ‘lead’ Pence to decertify election, but asked in an ‘ambitious’ manner as knives emerged between former running mates

Former President Trump’s attorney launched a free speech defense of his client’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, saying any request for Mike Pence to decertify the results was simply “ambitious.”

“What President Trump has not done is direct Vice President Pence to do something. He asked him in an ambitious way,” lawyer John Lauro told CNN on Sunday morning.

The attorney made the rounds on Sunday morning news — appearing on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox to defend the former president after he was indicted for a third time last week.

Asking is ambitious. Asking is not action. It is core freedom of speech. The press should defend freedom of speech,” Lauro told CNN.

“What President Trump did is within the realm of reality and the realm of free speech. He asks his vice president, “How about taking this action?” In the end, his vice president rejected all proposals,” the lawyer added. “What President Trump has not done is direct Vice President Pence to do something. He asked him in an ambitious way. Asking falls under the First Amendment.”

Pence said on Sunday that he was testifying before the grand jury investigating Donald Trump following a subpoena, but that he did not intend to testify at the criminal trial about Trump’s actions around Jan. 6.

But Lauro said he looked forward to calling Pence forward at the trial, musing that the former vice president would be “one of our best witnesses at trial.”

“The government will never be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump had corrupt or criminal intent.”

Meanwhile, Pence said Trump should never be president again after putting himself above the Constitution.

“President Trump was wrong then and he is wrong now,” Pence told CNN on Sunday. “Anyone who puts himself above the Constitution should never be president.”

He declined to say whether he would vote for Trump, who is leading in the polls, if he won the GOP primary.

“I don’t think we’re going to have to make that decision,” Pence said. “I am convinced that I cannot support the nominee.”

Days ago, Pence, who is running for president against Trump, bumped into his former running mate: “Unfortunately, the president was surrounded by a group of idiot lawyers who kept telling him what his itchy ears wanted to hear. … The president eventually kept demanding that I choose him over the constitution.”

Trump hit back at Truth Social.

‘WOW, it’s finally here!’ He wrote. “Liddle” Mike Pence, a man who was about to be impeached as governor of Indiana until I came along and made him VP, has gone to the dark side,” Trump wrote. “I never told a newly emboldened (not by his 2% polling!) Pence to put me above the Constitution, or that Mike was ‘too honest.’ He’s delusional and now he wants to show he’s a tough guy.’

A claim from the Jan. 6 indictment alleges Trump told Pence “you’re too honest” after the former vice president refused to participate in his efforts to overturn the election.

On Friday, prosecutors filing the case against Trump asked Judge Tanya Chutkan for a protective order to limit what Trump and his lawyers can share about the case after Trump posted online that he promised revenge against anyone who went after him.

“IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I WILL COME AFTER YOU,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump’s lawyers are due Monday afternoon to respond to the Justice Department’s proposal for a protection order.

On Tuesday, a grand jury indictment charged him with spreading “lies” and “sham investigations” while inciting an “angry” mob on Jan. 6. He is also accused of using “illegitimate means” to try to hold on to power after his defeat by Joe Biden and spreading “lies” that led to violence during the riot.

The former president faced a federal judge Thursday afternoon who read out the four federal charges against him, which together carry a maximum prison term of 55 years.