Letter to the editor: Pence reacting to a threat?

Vice President Mike Pence publicly announced his decision not to proceed with President Trump’s plan to recognize objections to the presidential election results by some senators and/or representatives of some states during the formal approval of the vote of the Electoral College by the combined houses of Congress prior to their scheduled meeting. He claimed he did not have the authority to recognize such objections — a point which may or may not be true, as his specific duties as chair of those proceedings are not specified in the Constitution.

Had Pence gone along with the Trump plan and recognized such objections, expected to be raised by members from more than one state, the formal constitutional requirement which the joint meeting represents would have proceeded to completion and the delay would not have occurred.

Pence was under great pressure, no question. His decision effectively would decide whether the Democratic ticket would be sworn in smoothly as president and vice president Jan. 20 — or maybe not even sworn in at all.

One has to wonder, with the stakes being that high, whether Pence might not have been subject to some sort of extreme pressure from one of the violent components that we have allowed to control so much of our life in America today.

Ed Collins

West Newton