Pence's balancing act as Trump's No. 2 shows signs of strain amid WH turmoil

By Ashley Parker June 16 at 6:00 AM

Vice President Pence turned 58 on the same day that two senior intelligence officials fielded questions before a Senate committee about the FBI’s ongoing Russia probe — and one day before fired FBI Director James B. Comey appeared before the same committee to discuss why he believed President Trump had acted inappropriately.

The back-to-back rounds of testimony were merely the latest signs of a presidency in the grip of tumult. But flying down to Houston that morning for an astronaut event, Pence didn’t seem to have a care in the world.

His staff had decorated the middle cabin of Air Force Two with a festive tableau of balloons and streamers, and greeted him with a warbling rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

“What are you all doing?” the vice president asked with a smile, opening his arms wide and taking in the scene with a combination of faux-surprise and subdued delight. “This is out of control.”

more
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/pences-balancing-act-as-trumps-no-2-shows-signs-of-strain-amid-wh-turmoil/2017/06/16/01652a1c-5141-11e7-a973-3dae94ed3eb7_story.html