"Trump Pressures Vice President Pence to Overturn Election Results" Third January 6 Hearing

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] It has recently come to light that former U.S. President Donald Trump exerted all-around pressure on former Vice President Mike Pence last year during the January 6 U.S. Capitol riot to overturn the 2020 election results.

According to the Washington Post (WP) and others on the 16th (local time), the third hearing held that day by the U.S. House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot included discussions about the Vice President's role during the riot. Summarizing the testimonies from that day, on January 6 last year, former Vice President Pence was presiding over the joint session of Congress to certify President Joe Biden's election victory. At that time, former President Trump called former Vice President Pence and pressured him until the last moment to overturn the election results.

Greg Jacob, who was former Vice President Pence's lawyer, testified at the hearing that Pence moved from his seat on the morning of the session to take a call from former President Trump. While working on a statement to be released after certifying President Biden's victory that day, Pence left his office to take the call. Nicholas Luna, a former Trump aide, testified that he heard former President Trump call Pence a "coward" during this time.

The reason former President Trump pressured former Vice President Pence was that he had previously judged Pence, as the presiding officer of the Senate, to have the authority to overturn the election results during the joint session to certify the election. However, former Vice President Pence told former President Trump at that moment that he did not have such authority. John Eastman, former President Trump's legal counsel, later realized that this approach was illegal and advised former President Trump accordingly, according to testimony.

The special committee also released photos of former Vice President Pence hiding when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6 last year. It was revealed that the protesters approached Pence within 40 feet (12.2 meters). They notably searched for Pence, shouting "Hang Pence" because they believed he was uncooperative.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.