The ongoing feud within the ranks of former Vice President Mike Pence’s advisers took a startling turn as Marc Short, Pence’s former chief of staff, read out a private email exchange between himself and former Pence adviser Keith Kellogg during a CNN interview on “The Situation Room.” The email exchange was brought to light after Kellogg publicly criticized Pence, calling him “unworthy of the presidency” and a poor leader.
In response to Kellogg’s scathing comments, Marc Short expressed his sadness and conveyed his respect for Kellogg’s military service. However, Short also highlighted what he perceived as inconsistencies in Kellogg’s statements. Short pointed out that Kellogg had recently boasted about nominating Pence for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a commendation that seemed at odds with his criticism of Pence’s leadership abilities.
Expanding on his critique, Short disclosed details about Kellogg’s actions on January 6, the day of the Capitol insurrection. Short noted that while many of their colleagues remained at their posts during the crisis, Kellogg was at the rally and even allegedly encouraged attendees to march on the Capitol. Short then revealed an email he received from Kellogg on that very evening, in which Kellogg expressed support for Pence’s actions and urged for the resolution of the electoral college issue that same night.
The CNN host, Wolf Blitzer, responded with surprise at Short’s revelation, acknowledging the seriousness of the charges being made. Short argued that Kellogg’s recent comments contradicted his past support for Pence and suggested that Kellogg’s continued affiliation with former President Donald Trump’s team may have influenced his change in stance.
“I’m saddened to read that,” reacted Short. “I don’t want to denigrate anybody who has served our country in uniform, in combat like Keith has, but at the same time I think Keith has just recently boasted that he nominated Mike Pence for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which I don’t think is consistent with his comments of him lacking leadership skills.
I also know there were a lot of young men and women on our staff who stood at their posts on January 6. Unfortunately, Keith was not one of them. Keith was at the rally at the time the United States Secret Service evacuated the vice president. The vice president’s national security adviser was down on the rally encouraging people to march on the Capitol, so he did not stay in his post.
And you know I did bring a receipt tonight because this is an email that I got from Keith on January 6, in the evening of January 6, in which he said, ‘The president is up in the residence. I recommend you stay on the hill and finish the electoral college issue tonight.’ I responded, ‘That’s our plan,’ and he said, ‘That’s not a good plan, that’s a great plan. Close this thing out tonight.’ So, on January 6, Keith was clearly supporting the vice president’s actions. I know that he’s still on Donald Trump’s payroll and perhaps that’s why he’s saying something different today.
“That’s a pretty serious charge you’re making right now,” replied Blitzer, to which Short said, “I think that his comments, you know, are very inconsistent with everything he has said about Mike Pence and also in private to Mike Pence in the two years since January 6.”
