Former Vice President Mike Pence detailed how then-President Donald Trump touted “un-American” legal theories and used “crank” lawyers in his attempt to stay in power in a meeting with special counsel Jack Smith’s team earlier this year.
ABC News reported Tuesday that Pence said he informed Trump he still hadn’t seen evidence of significant election fraud, but Trump did not care, claiming the election was “stolen” and acting “recklessly” on that “tragic day.”
The former vice president told Smith’s team he was aware that the Trump-Pence ticket was expected to take a big early lead in the results that would end up being reduced as more mail-in ballots were counted.
Pence is the highest-ranking current or former government official known to have spoken with the special counsel’s office.
Pence could take the stand against Trump in Smith’s election interference case go to trial, which is currently set for a trial next March.
The former vice president also offered insight into how his friendship with Trump unraveled in the final weeks of their time in the White House. According to the ABC News story, prior to Pence presiding over Congress certifying the election results on Jan. 6, 2021, he considered skipping the ceremony.
He added that he grew concerned when Trump began ignoring the advice of credible White House attorneys, instead relying on outside counsel Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell.
Pence said certifying the election would not feel right as it had “too many questions” and it would otherwise be “too hurtful to my friend.” Pence would later decide to go through with the certification.
“My only higher loyalty was to God and the Constitution,” Pence reportedly told Smith’s team.
“You know I don’t think I have the authority to change the outcome,” Pence wrote in his book last year. Smith’s team questioned him over that statement as well, according to sources.
