In a groundbreaking federal indictment unsealed on Tuesday, it is revealed that Mike Pence, the former vice president, now plays a central role in the first criminal charges against Donald Trump related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. The indictment, spanning 45 pages, draws on contemporaneous notes kept by Pence of their conversations in the days leading up to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. These notes offer insights into Trump’s relentless pressure on Pence to support his illegal scheme to maintain their grip on power.
One particular episode mentioned in the indictment involves Trump allegedly telling Pence that he was “too honest” for refusing to adhere to Trump’s false claims that Pence possessed the authority to overturn the vote. Another conversation highlighted in the indictment quotes Trump as saying, “Bottom line – won every state by 100,000s of votes.” These discussions shed light on the dynamics between Trump and Pence during this critical period.
Pence, now among the contenders vying for the 2024 presidential nomination within the Republican party, has spent a significant portion of his campaign defending his decision to defy Trump. He launched his bid with a strong condemnation of his former running mate, asserting that Trump had forced him to choose between loyalty to him and upholding the Constitution. Pence believes that voters now face the same choice.
Despite this, Pence recently stated that he did not believe Trump committed any illegal acts on January 6. He has also repeatedly questioned the Department of Justice’s motives for investigating him. In response to the indictment, Pence emphasized that anyone who prioritizes their own interests over the Constitution is unfit to be President of the United States.
During a campaign stop at the Indiana State Fair, Pence expressed his disappointment at the turn of events but maintained that he had fulfilled his duty that day. He attributed Trump’s actions to the influence of misguided lawyers who catered to his desires. Pence’s presidential campaign has had difficulty gaining traction, with many ardent Trump supporters blaming him for Trump’s defeat and others criticizing him for standing by Trump for so long.
As the deadline for the first 2024 GOP presidential debate approaches, it remains uncertain whether Pence will qualify to participate. While he has met the polling threshold, he has yet to meet the minimum donor requirement. Pence’s resistance to testifying before the House committee investigating the January 6 attack, as well as his fight against a grand jury subpoena, citing protection under the “speech or debate” clause, have added to the controversy surrounding him.
The newly unveiled indictment against Trump sheds light on the desperate measures he and his allies took to cling to power. Their efforts included attempting to persuade Pence to act fraudulently during the certification process on January 6. They urged him to accept false electors or reject states’ electoral votes, sending them back for further review. These endeavors were punctuated by a series of phone calls, including one on Christmas Day, during which Pence asserted that he lacked the authority to change the outcome.
Trump’s false claims about Pence’s power to overturn the election outcomes were viewed as dangerous. Concerns for Pence’s safety arose during a private meeting on January 5 when Trump expressed frustration and threatened to publicly criticize him. Pence’s chief of staff alerted the head of his Secret Service detail as a precaution.
The indictment also reveals how Trump revised his speech on the morning of January 6, just moments before the riot, reintroducing language falsely claiming that Pence had the authority to send electoral votes back to the states. Trump’s speech reiterated his baseless allegations of election fraud and falsely raised hopes among his supporters that Pence could alter the outcome.
Shortly after Trump’s speech, a violent mob breached the Capitol, chanting “Hang Mike Pence” as the former vice president and his family were escorted to safety. Even after the rioters were cleared and Congress reconvened to certify the election results, Trump’s allies persisted in pushing Pence to delay the process further.
Pence ultimately fulfilled his duty by certifying the election, cementing both his and Trump’s defeat. However, the indictment casts a damning light on the extent of Trump’s attempts to undermine the democratic process and coerce the former vice president into violating his constitutional responsibilities.
This report was contributed to by Associated Press writer Rick Callahan from Indianapolis.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
