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Pence to fight subpoena in probe of Trump's 2020 election denial -source

Published 02/14/2023, 05:57 AM
Updated 02/14/2023, 04:51 PM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is interviewed by Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, in front of an audience at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, U.S., October 19, 2022. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is interviewed by Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, in front of an audience at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, U.S., October 19, 2022. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo

By Sarah N. Lynch and Susan Heavey

(Reuters) -Republican former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is preparing to resist a grand jury subpoena for testimony about efforts to overturn then-President Donald Trump's 2020 reelection loss, a source familiar with his plans said on Tuesday.

Pence will argue that his role as president of the Senate - making him a member of the legislative branch - shields him from certain Justice Department demands, rather than cite executive privilege as then-vice president, the source said.

An attorney for Pence did not respond to a request for comment on his decision to challenge Special Counsel Jack Smith's request, first reported by Politico. Smith's office declined to comment.

Smith, a political independent and former war crimes prosecutor, is investigating efforts to overturn the 2020 election that included Trump supporters' deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol as Congress met to certify Democrat Joe Biden's victory.

Trump has repeatedly made false claims that he lost the 2020 election to Biden through massive voter fraud. He has also harshly criticized Pence for not blocking Congress' certification on Jan. 6 as Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, some chanting: "Hang Mike Pence."

Pence's chief of staff, Marc Short, and Greg Jacob, who was Pence's top legal counsel, along with other former top White House lawyers have previously appeared before the grand jury now being led by Smith.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is interviewed by Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, in front of an audience at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, U.S., October 19, 2022. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo

A now-disbanded House of Representatives panel that investigated the attack also sought testimony from Pence, who did not appear. It ultimately called for federal prosecutors to charge Trump with four crimes, including insurrection.

Trump, who is running again for president in 2024, has called the probes part of an ongoing political witch hunt. Pence, who publicly detailed some of his conversations with Trump about the 2020 election in a book last year, is weighing a presidential bid himself and has urged Republicans to move past their White House loss.

Latest comments

Like Trump Pence hasn't a leg to stand on and to me really makes himself look bad fighting this. I had thought he was better than Trump but no he is typical of the above the law republican party.
My guess is he doesn't want to anger Trump voters in case he miraculously wins the primary.
i suspect Pence has complicated knowledge from prior to the electoral college vote day - the spinning heads would all have been running full speed moving to that day which directly led to the insurrection on the 6th - pence to a certain degree is doing political CYA regarding trump voters but likely had knowledge of who said what and did what leading to the events of the 6th.
pence couldn't run for dogcatcher, trump is going to jail, the criminal!
in uour dreams the Democrats and weaponsised FBI and co have been trying for 6 years!
Trump has repeatedly made accuate claims that he lost the 2020 election to Biden through massive voter fraud.
Hypnotized by a con man. Sad.
you do understand the difference between a claim and actual proof - the kind required by courts of all levels including scotus - which have all found virtualy zero meaningful voter fraud and are penalizing those involved with the falsehoods including the insurrectionists!
Thank you, Don. Won't make a dent, but well said.
Real presidential material, that one.
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