Vice President Mike Pence said he has forgiven a television co-host who criticized him for being Christian, but now he wants to see her apologize to Christians nationwide.
"You and I know that criticism comes with public life. But I felt it was important that I defend the faith of tens of millions of Americans against that kind of slander. And I did so," Pence told Sean Hannity for an interview that aired Monday night.
Joy Behar, a co-host on ABC's "The View," remarked last month that Pence might be mentally ill because as a Christian he listens to what Jesus says.
She later called him and said she was sorry.
"I give Joy Behar a lot of credit. She picked up the phone. She called me. She was very sincere, and she apologized, and one of the things my faith teaches me is grace; forgive as you've been forgiven," Pence said.
"I said to Joy: 'Of course, I forgive you.' That's part of my faith experience. But I did encourage her, and I'm still encouraging her, to use the forum of that program or some other public forum, to apologize to tens of millions of Americans who were equally offended."
Behar has not spoken publicly about the apology she gave Pence. Last week, Disney CEO Bob Iger told shareholders she called up the nation's No. 2 executive to backpedal from her controversial comment.
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