Special counsel in Trump documents case subpoenas Pence [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Former Vice President Mike Pence and former national security adviser Robert O’Brien were subpoenaed by special counsel Jack Smith.
• Smith oversees the investigation of former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents.
• Other former officials under Trump have testified in front of grand juries in Washington.

Special counsel Jack Smith has subpoenaed former Vice President Mike Pence and former national security adviser Robert O’Brien as part of the investigation into former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and handling of classified documents.

The subpoena was issued after months of negotiations among federal prosecutors and Pence’s legal team, but the nature of the request is still unclear.

According to a CNN report, O’Brien has cited executive privilege in refusing to provide some of the requested information.

The Justice Department’s lawyers reportedly interviewed Chad Wolf, the former acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary under Trump, as part of the investigation related to the 2020 election interference.

Smith was named special counsel by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in November, shortly after Trump announced his 2024 presidential campaign.

Over the past months, several former top Trump administration officials testified in front of grand juries in Washington for investigations of Trump. The first case looks into the discovery of highly sensitive records at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and his handling of the documents. The second case investigates efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election’s results, which involves a plot to block Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s victory.

Classified documents were also discovered at the homes of Biden and Pence.

Last month, Robert Hur was named as a separate special counsel by Garland for an investigation into the improper storage of classified documents at the president’s home and former office.

Late last month, Pence took “full responsibility” after the discovery of the documents but said that he was not aware of their presence. The discovery occurred after his personal records were reviewed following the discovery at the president’s home.

Source: Reuters