Even as former President Donald Trump's allies defy subpoenas from the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th Capitol riot, the committee is hoping that allies of former Vice President Mike Pence will be more willing to talk.
CNN reports that the Capitol riot committee "is interested in gathering information from at least five members of former Vice President Mike Pence's inner circle," specifically on actions Trump and his allies took to pressure Pence to reject the certified results of the 2020 election.
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"Some individuals close to Pence may be willing, either voluntarily or under the guise of a 'friendly subpoena,' to provide critical information on how Trump and his allies tried to pressure the former vice president to overturn the results of the 2020 election," CNN writes. "According to sources familiar with the discussions, some Pence aides are proving more willing to engage with the committee than previously made public."
Pro-Trump attorney John Eastman wrote a memo claiming that Pence had the power as vice president to reject the certified results of the election and then send the decision back to Republican-controlled state houses.
Trump angrily criticized Pence after he refused to go along with this scheme, and Trump supporters infamously chanted "Hang Mike Pence!" during the January 6th Capitol riots.
More on the continuing investigation of the attempted Jan. 6 insurrection:
- "Presidents are not kings and plaintiff is not president": Judge rules Trump can't block Jan. 6 docs
- Jan. 6 organizers say they held "dozens" of planning meetings with House Republicans: report
- Jan. 6 committee subpoenas "Stop the Steal" organizers: "A lot of coordination and planning"
- Trump sued by Capitol police for Jan. 6 violence
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