Pence ‘plotted coup’ in wake of grope tape
MIKE PENCE, the US vice-president, plotted a “coup” after a tape of Donald Trump boasting about groping women was released during the presidential election campaign, it has been claimed.
The video, made public just a month before the 2016 election, showed Mr Trump using lewd and sexually aggressive language to brag about groping and trying to have sex with women, saying: “When you’re a star, they let you do it.” Its release caused dissent among senior Republicans with a number withdrawing their endorsements and calls for Mr Trump to stand down as the party’s candidate.
It was at this point that Mr Pence reportedly plotted a coup against his running mate, going to Reince Priebus, the Republican national committee chairman, and offering to stand in Mr Trump’s place. Mr Pence was said to be “beside himself ” over Mr Trump’s comments. Mr Pence’s wife, Karen, called Mr Trump “reprehensible – just totally vile”, The Atlantic, a US magazine, reported.
Mr Trump later apologised for his comments on the tape.
Alyssa Farah, Mr Pence’s press secretary, denied the magazine’s claims. “Didn’t happen,” she said.
Mr Priebus has not yet responded to requests for comment.