(Washington Insider Magazine) -The chairman of the congressional committee probing the violence on Jan. 6 said on Friday that the panel will summon former Vice President Mike Pence to meet with legislators this month.
In an interview with NPR, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said, “I think you could expect that before the end of the month.” “Our committee really needs to hear his opinions about what happened on Jan. 6.”
Thompson’s comments “suggest that the Select Committee is considering issuing a summon to the former Vice President sometime this month,” a committee member later told NBC News.
Pence had walked a fine line when it comes to the aftermath of the Capitol violence. He said there had been “irregularities” in the 2020 election, a hint to former President Donald Trump’s bogus accusations of massive fraud, while also adding he and Trump never “see eye to eye” on the subject.
Pence’s testimony could be helpful to the Jan. 6 committee, especially on discussions inside the Trump White House building up to the siege on the Capitol, when Pence’s life was feared as many in the pro-Trump crowd chanted “hang Mike Pence.” Trump has described Pence as a “good man,” but has also stated that his vice president made a “big mistake” by declining to interfere with Congress’ official count of votes in the electoral college from the 2020 elections.
After the November election, White House advisors met with Trump and Rudy Giuliani to explore methods to overturn the results and urge Pence not to confirm the Electoral College count in Congress, according to the Jan. 6 hearing.
Several Pence advisers have been helping with the House investigation, including his former head of staff Marc Short.
Pence’s former advisers have been “more than helpful,” according to Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., one of just two Republicans on the nine-member panel.
He said, though, that it may not be the case with Pence, who now has remained mostly mum on the committee’s inquiry.
Kinzinger added, “I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t want to cooperate in some way.” “I don’t know if that means — hopefully not a subpoena, but maybe written answers to questions or a voluntary interview.” We’d love to hear from him.”
