Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Pence Won't Appeal Order Compelling Testimony in Election Denial Probe
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 2 years ago on
April 6, 2023

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A spokesman for Mike Pence said Wednesday that the former vice president will not appeal a judge’s order compelling him to testify in the Justice Department’s investigation into efforts by Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The decision sets up a possible appearance by Pence in the coming weeks before a federal grand jury scrutinizing attempts by the former president and supporters before the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to undo Democrat Joe Biden’s victory.

Multiple Trump administration officials have testified in that investigation, as well as in a separate inquiry examining Trump’s possession of classified documents, but Pence would be the highest-profile witness to answer questions before a grand jury. His closed-door testimony could offer investigators a firsthand account of Trump’s state of mind in the pivotal weeks after he lost to Biden and further expose the rift in their relationship since the end of their administration.

The strain could grow as Pence approaches a likely 2024 run for the presidency and a challenge to Trump, who already is in the race for the Republican nomination.

After Pence was subpoenaed months ago by the Justice Department’s special counsel, lawyers for Trump objected on executive privilege grounds. But a federal judge in Washington last week rejected those arguments, forcing Pence to testify.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg did give Pence a win by accepting arguments from Pence’s lawyers that, for constitutional reasons, he could not be questioned about his actions on Jan. 6. They had argued that because Pence was serving in his capacity as president of the Senate that day, he was protected from being forced to testify under the Constitution’s “speech or debate” clause, which is intended to protect members of Congress from questioning about official legislative acts.

“Having vindicated that principle of the Constitution, Vice President Pence will not appeal the judge’s ruling and will comply with the subpoena as required by law,” Pence spokesman Devin O’Malley said in a statement Wednesday.

The Trump team could still appeal the executive privilege ruling from Boasberg.

The Jan. 6 and classified records investigations are being led by Jack Smith, a former war crimes prosecutor who was named by the Justice Department in November to serve as special counsel. It is not clear when the investigations might end or whether anyone will be charged.

Pence has spoken extensively about Trump’s pressure campaign urging him to reject Biden’s victory in the days leading up to Jan. 6, including in his book, “So Help Me God.” Pence, as vice president, had a ceremonial role overseeing Congress’ counting of the Electoral College vote, but did not have the power to affect the results, despite Trump’s contention otherwise.

Pence has said that Trump endangered his family and everyone else who was at the Capitol that day and history will hold him “accountable.”

“For four years, we had a close working relationship. It did not end well,” Pence wrote, summing up their time in the White House.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Trump’s Approval Rating Sinks as Trade Policies Take Center Stage

DON'T MISS

CA Insurance Commissioner Lara Used Campaign Funds for $30K in High-End Meals

DON'T MISS

Man Sentenced to Life in 2020 Dinuba Murder

DON'T MISS

Trump Renews Call to End Clock Changes, Keep Daylight Saving

DON'T MISS

‘Extremely Troubling’ That US Can’t Provide Details on Mistakenly Deported Man, Judge Says

DON'T MISS

US Stocks Jump and the Bond Market Swings to Cap Wall Street’s Chaotic Week

DON'T MISS

Immigration Judge Finds That Columbia University Activist Mahmoud Khalil Can Be Deported

DON'T MISS

Fresno Council Approves Going After Copper Thieves. Will DA Prosecute on County Side?

DON'T MISS

Madera County Sheriff Recovers $80K in Stolen Goods Tied to 13 Burglaries

DON'T MISS

California May Add Bigfoot to List of State Symbols? States Battle Over Bread, Beasts and Beverages

UP NEXT

CA Insurance Commissioner Lara Used Campaign Funds for $30K in High-End Meals

UP NEXT

Man Sentenced to Life in 2020 Dinuba Murder

UP NEXT

Trump Renews Call to End Clock Changes, Keep Daylight Saving

UP NEXT

‘Extremely Troubling’ That US Can’t Provide Details on Mistakenly Deported Man, Judge Says

UP NEXT

US Stocks Jump and the Bond Market Swings to Cap Wall Street’s Chaotic Week

UP NEXT

Immigration Judge Finds That Columbia University Activist Mahmoud Khalil Can Be Deported

UP NEXT

Fresno Council Approves Going After Copper Thieves. Will DA Prosecute on County Side?

UP NEXT

Madera County Sheriff Recovers $80K in Stolen Goods Tied to 13 Burglaries

UP NEXT

California May Add Bigfoot to List of State Symbols? States Battle Over Bread, Beasts and Beverages

UP NEXT

Victim Identified in South Fresno Gang Shooting, No Arrests Made

Trump Renews Call to End Clock Changes, Keep Daylight Saving

9 hours ago

‘Extremely Troubling’ That US Can’t Provide Details on Mistakenly Deported Man, Judge Says

9 hours ago

US Stocks Jump and the Bond Market Swings to Cap Wall Street’s Chaotic Week

9 hours ago

Immigration Judge Finds That Columbia University Activist Mahmoud Khalil Can Be Deported

9 hours ago

Fresno Council Approves Going After Copper Thieves. Will DA Prosecute on County Side?

9 hours ago

Madera County Sheriff Recovers $80K in Stolen Goods Tied to 13 Burglaries

10 hours ago

California May Add Bigfoot to List of State Symbols? States Battle Over Bread, Beasts and Beverages

10 hours ago

Victim Identified in South Fresno Gang Shooting, No Arrests Made

11 hours ago

After a Rocky 90-Day Tenure, LA’s Recovery Czar Is Stepping Down

11 hours ago

Money, Not Instruction Time, Is at Heart of Designated Schools Negotiations

12 hours ago

Trump’s Approval Rating Sinks as Trade Policies Take Center Stage

Recent polling indicates a decline in President Donald Trump’s approval ratings as he implements new global trade policies in his seco...

7 hours ago

7 hours ago

Trump’s Approval Rating Sinks as Trade Policies Take Center Stage

7 hours ago

CA Insurance Commissioner Lara Used Campaign Funds for $30K in High-End Meals

Antonio Mendoza Chavez Jr., 37, was sentenced to life in prison Friday for the 2020 first-degree murder of a Dinuba man, whom he shot after accusing his girlfriend of infidelity. (Tulare County DA)
8 hours ago

Man Sentenced to Life in 2020 Dinuba Murder

9 hours ago

Trump Renews Call to End Clock Changes, Keep Daylight Saving

9 hours ago

‘Extremely Troubling’ That US Can’t Provide Details on Mistakenly Deported Man, Judge Says

9 hours ago

US Stocks Jump and the Bond Market Swings to Cap Wall Street’s Chaotic Week

9 hours ago

Immigration Judge Finds That Columbia University Activist Mahmoud Khalil Can Be Deported

9 hours ago

Fresno Council Approves Going After Copper Thieves. Will DA Prosecute on County Side?

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend