charges of conspiracy
Mike Pence could become very dangerous to Donald Trump – and he would be ready to do so
“They asked me to annul the election”: Mike Pence (right), here with his then boss Donald Trump in February 2020
© Michael Brochstein / Zuma Wire / DPA
Donald Trump’s defense in the conspiracy trial presents Mike Pence as a key defense witness. But what the former vice president has to say about his ex-boss sounds anything but exculpatory.
On January 6, 2020, Pence chaired the congressional session to confirm Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election and was openly called on by Trump to block the procedure. However, Lauro claims that Trump never urged his then deputy to overturn the voters’ decision. He just asked for a delay.
“The ultimate request to Vice President Pence was to stop the count and give the states an opportunity to get involved,” Lauro said on CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday. Trump was convinced that there were irregularities in the election that state authorities would have to investigate before the result could be confirmed – allegations that had already been rejected by numerous courts at the time.
Pence raises serious allegations against Trump
If Lauro’s anticipation of a possible appearance by Pence on the witness stand is genuine – and not just tactical legal banter – she should have received a significant damper on Sunday. Because Pence, who, like Trump, is fighting for the Republican presidential candidacy in the 2024 election, flatly rejected the defense attorney’s statements: “You asked me to annul the election. I had no right to annul the election,” said the 64 year-old on CNN’s State of the Union.
Trump had already appeared “convinced” in December that Pence had the right to refuse to recognize state electoral votes, the former vice president said. And on January 5, Trump’s lawyers told him: “We want you to reject votes directly.” “He was wrong then and he’s wrong now,” Pence said.
Ex-US President under pressure
Donald Trump has these legal problems on his hands
And then the Trump rival went into campaign mode and was even clearer: “The American people deserve to know that President Trump has asked me to put him above my oath to the Constitution, but I have kept my oath and will do it always hold,” the Republican announced. “And I’m running for President because I think someone who puts themselves above the Constitution should never be President of the United States. I mean, our Constitution is more important than a single man. Our country is more important than careers a single man.”
Smith subpoenaed Pence before
Trump lost the 2020 presidential election to Democrat Joe Biden, but never admitted defeat. Instead, he spread the lie about election fraud and, together with his lawyers and other supporters, tried to overturn the result after the fact. On January 6, 2021, the president-elect called on his supporters in a speech in Washington to march to the Capitol and fight “whatever the hell”. A mob of Trump fans then stormed the Congressional seat.
Trump was indicted in Washington on Thursday for his behavior after his election defeat. Special Counsel Jack Smith has accused the 77-year-old of plotting to defraud the United States, disenfranchise voters and obstruct an official process.
Smith had subpoenaed Pence during the February investigation, and after some legal back-and-forth, the ex-vice president appeared before the prosecuting grand jury in April. On CBS News, the evangelical Republican made it clear that he would also testify in the upcoming trial against Trump if he were summoned again:
“We will respond to the call of the law when it comes and we will just tell the truth,” Pence announced. In view of the statements made by the former Trump intimate on Sunday, John Lauro’s enthusiasm should then finally be over.
Sources: CNN, CBS News, Associated Press