Will Mike Pence testify in Jan. 6 special counsel probe? Judge rules

First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and Second Lady Karen Pence bow their heads in prayer during the White House National Day of Prayer Service Thursday, May 7, 2020, in the Rose Garden of the White House. (Official White House photo by Andrea Hanks)

First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and Second Lady Karen Pence bow their heads in prayer during the White House National Day of Prayer Service Thursday, May 7, 2020, in the Rose Garden of the White House. (Official White House photo by Andrea Hanks)

By Mary Lou Masters
Daily Caller News Foundation

Former Vice President Mike Pence has to testify before a grand jury regarding his conversations with former President Donald Trump during and before the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, sources told CNN.

Federal Judge James Boasberg ruled that Pence must testify in the Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into the degree of involvement the former president had with the storming of the Capitol, sources familiar with the sealed ruling told CNN. Pence will still be allowed to decline to answer questions during his appearance before the grand jury that relate to his own actions in the certification of the 2020 election on Jan. 6.

Pence was initially subpoenaed for documents and testimony by Smith back in February, and has since planned to challenge it. The former vice president planned to fight Smith’s subpoena via a novel argument, the “speech and debate” clause, on the grounds that he was a working member of the Legislature on that day, and couldn’t comment on such legal proceedings.

“He feels it really goes to the heart of some separation of powers issues. He feels duty-bound to maintain that protection, even if it means litigating it,” a source close to Pence told Politico.

WND is now on Trump's Truth Social! Follow us @WNDNews

Citing his role as president of the Senate to protect him from testifying would have been a “first time” argument, Roy Brownell, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s former counsel, told Politico.

The former vice president is still able to appeal, according to CNN.

Mark Meadows, former Trump chief of staff, was subpoenaed before Pence back in January and could push back citing executive privilege. Former Trump officials and Pence’s chief of staff, Marc Short, and his lawyer, Greg Jacob, have already testified.

Pence’s team did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

SUPPORT TRUTHFUL JOURNALISM. MAKE A DONATION TO THE NONPROFIT WND NEWS CENTER. THANK YOU!

The post Will Mike Pence testify in Jan. 6 special counsel probe? Judge rules appeared first on WND.

by is licensed under