GOOD CALL: Drug case to blame for Pence’s canceled NH trip.

The CEO of a New Hampshire drug treatment center Vice President Mike Pence was set to visit earlier this month said one of his staffers has been fired for pleading guilty to trafficking in fentanyl.

That staffer, a former offensive lineman for the New York Giants named Jeff Hatch, was reportedly the reason Pence never landed at the Granite Recovery Centers headquarters in Salem, N.H., according to Politico.

Granite Recovery Centers CEO Eric Spofford said in a statement to the Herald Monday night that he has taken immediate action.

“I am shocked and disappointed to learn today that Jeff Hatch has pled guilty to a drug offense. Granite Recovery Centers terminated Jeff’s employment today immediately upon learning about this matter,” Spofford said.

Politico reported Monday that Pence abruptly canceled his trip to Manchester, N.H., July 2 when he learned of Hatch’s drug case, with Air Force Two never leaving the ground.

No big conspiracy or secret crisis — just avoiding embarrassing optics.

UPDATE (FROM GLENN): Don’t kid yourself. This is just the cover story: We all know it was aliens.