The Division of Justice (DOJ) is looking for testimony from former Vice President Mike Pence for its investigation into Donald Trump’s makes an attempt to remain in energy after dropping the 2020 presidential election, in keeping with a number of media experiences.
Sources acquainted with the matter confirmed the DOJ’s efforts to The New York Occasions, CNN and ABC Information on Wednesday. All reported that Pence, who has developed a fraught relationship with Trump after refusing to help his election fraud claims, is open to the request.
DOJ investigators reportedly contacted Pence earlier than Legal professional Common Merrick Garland appointed a particular counsel ― Jack Smith, who as soon as led the general public integrity part ― to take over the probe final week. As of now, Pence has not been subpoenaed.
Although he’s reportedly open to testifying earlier than the DOJ, Pence has refused to take part in the same investigation led by a Home choose committee, saying final week that Congress “has no proper to my testimony.”
Trump might search authorized avenues to cease Pence from testifying by invoking govt privilege, which on the very least, might stall the DOJ’s efforts to convene with him.
Pence could possibly be a key witness within the investigations into the efforts by Trump and his allies to subvert democracy, together with a plan to create a pretend slate of pro-Trump electors in a number of states Biden received in 2020, due to his shut communications with the ex-president within the days main as much as Jan. 6, 2021, when an offended mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol with Trump’s encouragement. Pence detailed a lot of their exchanges in his lately launched e-book, saying Trump summoned him to fulfill with lawyer John Eastman, who then pressured Pence to dam the electoral school certification course of in Congress.
Wednesday’s information comes the week after Pence shared he’s giving
“prayerful consideration” to operating for president in 2024 ― a race for which Trump has already introduced his candidacy. Pence stated there are “higher selections” than Trump for president final week when requested if he’d be presidential candidate once more.