By Oyintari Ben
A federal court has mandated that former vice president Mike Pence testify in the federal investigation into Donald Trump’s attempt to rig the 2020 election, according to a person familiar with the decision.
The source said that the former president attempted to claim executive privilege over Pence’s testimony, but Judge James Boasberg largely dismissed the claim.
However, Boasberg, the chief justice of the federal district court in Washington, concurred, at least in part, with Pence’s legal counsel that the former vice president benefits from immunity from testifying about specific subjects because of his position as the Senate president beginning on January 6, 2021.
It was unclear immediately whether Boasberg’s decision, which is now under seal, is comprehensive enough to address Pence’s outspoken opposition to the subpoena, which special counsel Jack Smith issued, or whether he plans to appeal.
Despite losing to Joe Biden, Pence has said he is willing to respond to some inquiries about Trump’s attempt to rig the 2020 presidential election.
However, he has contended that the vice president is entitled to protection usually granted to members of Congress because of his exceptional position as president of the Senate and senior executive branch member.
If he does not like the result, he has said he is willing to take the case to the Supreme Court.
