Former Vice President Mike Pence, former President Donald J. Trump will not appeal a federal judge’s ruling forcing him to testify before a grand jury investigating Trump’s efforts, an aide said Wednesday.
Mr. Pence’s decision, Mr. Federal prosecutors could clear the way for long-sought potential testimony as they probe Trump’s efforts to stay in office. Mr. In a parallel effort to limit Pence’s testimony, Mr. It’s unclear whether Trump’s lawyers will appeal the judge’s ruling.
In a statement, Mr. Pence’s adviser, Devin O’Malley, Jan. Mr. Under the Constitution’s “speech or debate” clause, the executive branch — including the judiciary — is protected from legal scrutiny. That provision is intended to protect the separation of powers.
“The court’s landmark and historic ruling confirmed that for the first time in history, the speech or debate branch has been extended to the Vice President of the United States,” Mr. O’Malley said. “Proving constitutional principle, Vice President Pence will not appeal the judge’s ruling and will comply with the subpoena as required by law.”
However, in a closed-door hearing in federal district court in Washington last month, Judge James E. Bosberg, in his judgment Mr. Pence said he still has to testify about illegal activities. On or before January 6 Mr.
Understand the events of January 6
Mr. If Mr. Pence is done testifying, Mr. It would mark a turning point in a months-long behind-the-scenes battle waged by Trump and several witnesses close to him. Lawyers for former presidents have often tried — and failed repeatedly — to limit the testimony of key witnesses and assert executive privilege.
On Tuesday, a federal appeals court in Washington ruled that Mr. Trump’s legal team denied an emergency request, Mr. Meadows said. Mr. Two of Pence’s top aides, Mark Short and Greg Jacobs, were compelled to testify before a grand jury last year by order of a judge, Mr. Two top lawyers in Trump’s White House, Pat A. Cipollone and Patrick F. Philbin.
With their options narrowed, some witnesses who recently lost attempts to assert forms of privilege to avoid answering questions may soon take another tactic, asserting their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, according to people familiar with the matter.
Because of the conversations he participated in at the White House in the weeks before the Capitol attack, Mr. In the election investigation on Trump Mr. Pence has always been an important witness. At that time, Mr. Trump has repeatedly pressed her to use her ceremonial role of overseeing Congress’ tally of Electoral College votes to prevent or delay her certification of defeat.
Prosecutors have spent months trying to get Mr. Regarding Trump’s demands, Mr. They tried to get Pence to talk — first through interview requests from the Justice Department and then through a grand jury subpoena issued by special counsel Jack Smith. Mr. Investigation into Trump’s attempt to stay in office.
From shortly after the election to January 6, Mr. Mr. Pence is outside the government. Trump’s associates, John Eastman, a lawyer working with the president, and Mr. Mr. Pence told his advisers in January. On 6 he examined what his powers were. As time went on, he told Mr. Trump clarified. Electoral College Vote.
By January 5, Mr. As Trump’s pressure campaign heated up, Mr. Bence’s chief of staff, Mr. Short called the vice president’s chief Secret Service agent into his West Wing office and asked Mr. Trump said. Mr. Going to drive the Benz and they may be a safety hazard.
The next day, Mr. Mr. Trump addressed a pro-Trump crowd near the White House at a rally. He publicly pressured Pence, who later urged his followers to “peacefully” and “patriotically” march on the Capitol. Once there, hundreds of rioters surrounded the building, some chanting “Hang Mike Pence!” They chanted.
Mr. Pence, considering his own presidential campaign, released a memoir in which he recounts some of the conversations that investigators would be interested in having in a closed-door setting.
