Editors say publishing 61-year-old former US President Mike Pence’s memoirs legitimizes bigotry. The director of the house that will publish the book says he will continue with his plans.
Publisher Simon & Schuster has said it will go ahead with its plans and publish the memoirs of former US Vice President Mike Pence, despite staff objections to the book.
In a memo sent to employees on Tuesday, CEO Jonathan Karp said the company’s mission was “to publish a diversity of voices and perspectives.”
“Therefore, we will continue with our publishing agreement with (former) Vice President Mike Pence,” he announced.
Simon & Schuster announced earlier this month that Pence had signed an agreement to write a memoir about his activity during the reign of former Republican President Donald Trump.
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The publisher said it would be a two-book deal, with the first volume tentatively scheduled for publication in 2023.
Two people in the publishing industry said the Pence deal is worth between $ 3 million and $ 4 million, CNN reported.
The announcement sparked outrage from staff who petitioned it, saying the deal meant the publishing house was “ legitimizing fanaticism. ”
The petition, which does not list the number of signers, accused Pence of pushing for policies that discriminated against people of color, LGBTQ groups and women.
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“Mike Pence literally and figuratively has blood on his hands. We are demanding that the contract for Mike Pence’s book be canceled, ”he says, according to copies circulating online.
The untitled memoir is expected to cover Pence’s faith and public service, including his time as a U.S. congressman, his rise to become governor of the state of Indiana, and his return to Washington as Trump’s number two.
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Pence, 61, has largely disappeared from politics since he and Trump lost the November election to current president, Democrat Joe Biden.