MIAMI (AP) — Former Vice President Mike Pence stated Friday that he takes “full accountability” after classified documents were found at his Indiana dwelling.

In his first public feedback because the discovery, Pence stated he hadn’t been conscious that the paperwork have been in his residence however acknowledged his ignorance wasn’t an excuse.

“Let me be clear: These categorized paperwork mustn’t have been in my private residence,” Pence stated at Florida Worldwide College, the place he was speaking in regards to the financial system and selling his new e-book, “So Assist Me God.” “Errors have been made, and I take full accountability.”

The invention made public by Pence’s group earlier this week marked the newest in a string of recoveries of sensitive papers from the houses of present and former high U.S. officers. The Division of Justice was already investigating the invention of categorized paperwork in former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and at President Joe Biden’s dwelling in Delaware and his former Washington workplace.

Pence’s public acceptance of accountability over his dealing with of the paperwork marks a departure from the reactions of each Trump, his former boss, and Biden in their very own circumstances. Trump denounced the search of Mar-a-Lago as “one of the stunning abuses of energy by any administration in American historical past” and prompt with out proof that investigators could have planted the paperwork. Biden has stated he was shocked to be taught the paperwork had been discovered however had “no regrets” about how the general public was knowledgeable.

The invention of paperwork at Pence’s dwelling got here 5 months after he told The Associated Press that he didn’t take categorized information with him when he left the vice presidency. “No, to not my information,” he stated when requested if he had retained any such data.

The remark — which might sometimes be unremarkable for a former vp — was notable on the time on condition that FBI brokers had seized categorized and high secret data from Trump’s Florida property on Aug. 8 whereas investigating potential violations of three totally different federal legal guidelines. Trump claimed that the paperwork seized by brokers have been “all declassified.”

Pence stated he determined to undertake the search of his dwelling “out of an abundance of warning” after latest disclosures by Biden’s group that paperwork have been discovered at his former workplace and in his Delaware dwelling.

He stated he had directed his counsel to work with the Nationwide Archives, Division of Justice and Congress and totally cooperate in any investigation.

The previous vp stated nationwide safety relies on the correct dealing with of categorized paperwork, however he hopes that individuals notice that he acted swiftly to right the error.

“We acted above politics and put nationwide pursuits first,” he stated.

Pence, who stays estranged from Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, rebellion on the U.S. Capitol, is contemplating a 2024 White Home problem to his former boss, who announced his campaign in November. Biden has stated he intends to hunt reelection in 2024, although he has but to formally kick off his marketing campaign.

Referring to a attainable White Home bid, Pence stated he has been reflecting on the challenges the nation has. He stated many accomplishments have been “dismantled” by the Biden administration, highlighting issues with immigration and the financial system.

“We’re giving highly effective issues on what may be subsequent for us,” he stated. “I’m going to proceed to journey all throughout this nation. I’m going to proceed to hear and to mirror.”