Trump Campaign Steps Up Vice Presidential Vetting Efforts

NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump’s campaign has begun to gather information from potential vice presidential candidates, sending vetting papers to a list of top possibilities in recent weeks, according to two people familiar with the matter.

According to one of the persons who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the outreach, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott have all received requests.

Trump | AP News Image

Trump Campaign Steps Up Vice Presidential Vetting Efforts

Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, and Trump’s 2016 rival-turned-cabinet member Ben Carson were reportedly on the list.

The second person stated that various layers of documents had been shared.

Representatives for the candidates did not immediately reply to calls for comment on Wednesday.

Aides have stressed that Trump’s list is fluid and dynamic and that he will make the final decision.

Trump | AP news Image

Trump Campaign Steps Up Vice Presidential Vetting Efforts

“Anyone claiming to know who or when President Trump will choose his VP is lying, unless the person is named Donald J. Trump,” Trump campaign spokesperson Brian Hughes said in a statement.

The news comes a week after a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of 34 charges of falsifying business records in his criminal hush money case. He’s scheduled to be sentenced next month.

Trump has stated that he is not in a hurry to select his running mate and may wait until the Republican National Convention in July to introduce the person who would join him on the GOP ticket.

Trump | AP news Image

Trump Campaign Steps Up Vice Presidential Vetting Efforts

In an interview with Newsmax on Tuesday night, Trump named Scott, Burgum, Rubio, Vance, and Carson contenders.

NBC first reported that vetting papers had been sent to top applicants, and ABC published the list.

SOURCE – (AP)