Here's the thing though, you're never going to get an objective measure of morality or ethics. Some will think the context you shared absolve him, either fully or in part. Hurt people hurt people, and all that. Some will say it doesn't matter, culpability lies with the individual regardless of context. Oftentimes, people even have contradictory views on this issue when applied to different people.
You're probably gonna get a lot of shit here for suggesting Pence isn't responsible for his actions defending a theocratic state, but I get what you're angling at. I don't agree, but it's valid, as long as you extend that same philosophy to others. Is the serial killer not responsible because he has a mental illness or a poor upbringing? Is Trump not responsible just because his dad was a piece of shit? Is a member of a gang responsible for a drive by shooting when he had no other opportunities to escape his situation? Is a member of Hamas responsible for their actions even when growing up in an apartheid state? To what degree are all of those examples responsible for using or not using the full breadth of their abilities to not let those circumstances make you perpetuate harm? Up to your personal worldview and ethics. It's a complex question with no easy answer, but there will be huge chunks of people who insist that the simplest answer on either extreme is true and that should be avoided imo.