Former Vice President Mike Pence testified for more than seven hours this Thursday before the grand jury investigating the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 and the other attempts by his former boss, Donald Trump, to reverse and falsify the results of the presidential elections of November 2020.
Pence, whom Trump supporters vociferously asked to “hang up” during the 9/6 insurrection, appeared behind closed doors at the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse, as the headquarters of the Federal District Court in Washington D.C. is called, very close by. to the Capitol.
The Republican politician, a probable candidate for the presidential elections in competition with Trump, is one of the most important witnesses in the case of the attempted coup instigated by the leader of his party. Pence rejected strong pressure from the then-outgoing president so that, in his capacity as president of the Senate, he annulled the proclamation session of the results that had given Joe Biden the victory. And it was then, in view of that refusal, that the Trump hordes stormed the Congress building.
Pence was summoned by special counsel Jack Smith and opposed the appearance on the grounds that it violated a constitutional provision. Trump, for his part, appealed the summons of what was his second in the White House on the pretext that he violated privileges of immunity over his exercise as president.
An appeals court on Wednesday dismissed Trump’s appeal after prosecutors rejected Pence’s attempts to avoid an appearance. However, the judge overseeing the grand jury inquiries granted Pence not to speak about his performance as head of the Senate at the January 6 proclamation session, although he would have to testify about any possible crimes committed by Trump.
Mike Pence has been ambiguous and variable in relation to the events of 6-E. In an interview with ABC last year, he called Trump’s actions that day “reckless” and noted that his actions endangered everyone on Capitol Hill, including his family members who found themselves trapped in one of the rooms of the building and, together with him, they had to be transferred by the police.
But in another conversation, with NBC, Pence added: “What the president was repeating is what he was hearing from that gang of lawyers around him.” And “I don’t know if it’s criminal to listen to bad advice from lawyers.” added.
In a previous interview with Fox, the former vice president had downplayed the revolt, blamed the media for magnifying the events to distract public attention, and assured that he and Trump had made peace.
A month ago, however, Pence said at the annual Gridiron Club dinner in Washington that “President Trump was wrong” and that he, as Vice President of the Government and President of the Senate, “had no right to overturn the result.” of the elections”. And he added: “I know history will hold Donald Trump accountable.”
Pence was right, surely. But it remains to be seen if, in addition to facing history, the former Republican president is also tried and sentenced before the courts and the people.
