Former Vice President Mike Pence must give testimony to a grand jury investigating his former boss, Donald Trump.
Pence attempted to escape the subpoena to testify in the probes against Trump, with two lawsuits trying to withhold his statement. But, on Monday, federal Judge James E. Boasberg ruled that Pence must give testimony to the investigation.
The grand jury is probing several legal matters relating to Trump – including his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, classified documents found at his private residence in Mar-A-Lago and his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot.
Judge Boasberg’s decision is part of a growing list of legal losses for Trump’s team – who have fought to silence his former administration’s officials from giving testimony against him. The decision follows a federal judge’s decision to compel former Chief of Staff MarkMeadows‘ deposition.
In the weeks leading to the January 6 insurrection, Trump pleaded with Pence to overturn the election. As vice president, Pence was obligated to oversee congressional certification of the election. Pence refused Trump’s illegal request, leading to a mob of angry Trump supporters chanting violent threats as they stormed the Capitol, including groups of people yelling “hang Mike Pence.”
A Department of Justice investigation, led by Special Counsel Jack Smith, fought to secure Pence’s testimony since late 2022. The federal judge’s ruling gives the probe into Trump an interview with a high-ranking, highly sought-after member of Trump’s team.
Pence’s legal team is “evaluating the court’s decision” as they debate an appeal. In an interview on Newsmax, Pence said, “the requirements of my testimony going forward are a subject of our review right now, and I’ll have more to say about that in the days ahead.”
Pence has not remained silent on his feelings about Trump since the Capitol riot. The former Vice President wrote a book about his experience in Trump’s administration. He said Trump warned him that “hundreds of thousands are gonna hate your guts” if he didn’t use his power to overturn the election.
Pence and Trump recently engaged in a public spat – both placing the blame on the other for the violence of January 6.
Pence is likely looking into a run for the Republican presidential nomination, a race that Trump entered in late 2022.
