The US Department of Justice wants to question Donald Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence, as part of the investigation into the Republican billionaire’s efforts to change the results of the 2020 presidential election, several US media reported on Wednesday. .
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Mr. Pence will for his part consider this request for testimony, according to sources interviewed by the New York Times and CNN.
US Justice Secretary Merrick Garland last week appointed a special prosecutor to independently investigate the ex-president, who has announced his 2024 presidential bid.
This independent prosecutor now oversees two separate investigations carried out for months by the federal justice system. The first focuses on Donald Trump’s efforts to challenge his 2020 presidential defeat, until his supporters’ assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, when his Democratic rival Joe’s victory was certified. Biden.
The second on the management by the ex-president of confidential documents supposed to be archived after his departure from the White House.
However, the special prosecutor will only be responsible for issuing a recommendation on whether or not Donald Trump should be charged and it will be up to the minister to decide.
The request of American justice to Mike Pence, who has not yet been officially summoned as a witness, predates the appointment of the independent prosecutor, according to the New York Times.
The former Republican president had publicly pressured Mr. Pence not to certify the election results on January 6, 2021.
Actions denounced as “irresponsible” by Mike Pence, who nevertheless refused to be heard during the House of Representatives inquiry into the attack on the Capitol.
Potential presidential candidate of 2024, Mr. Pence could this time consider giving evidence because it is a criminal investigation, according to the New York Times.
Donald Trump could try to prevent the testimony of his former vice-president by brandishing an executive prerogative to keep his communications confidential, as he tried to do with other officials called to testify in the federal investigation.