Staff Reports
Former President Donald J. Trump is facing a federal indictment that accuses him of being involved in criminal schemes to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The indictment claims that Trump was determined to explore every legal option to verify the election results, and he had Vice President Mike Pence on his side as an extra piece of evidence.
According to the indictment, Trump had multiple discussions with Pence about the certification proceeding on January 6. Trump wanted to clarify Pence’s role and investigate the possibility of rejecting electoral votes or sending them back to the state legislatures for review.
Despite Pence repeatedly refusing to support him, Trump continued to pressure him. The indictment even includes “notes” from Pence that were given to Jack Smith, providing more details about a meeting between Trump and Pence. It seems like Trump was trying really hard to gain Pence’s support.
On December 29, Trump falsely told Pence that the Justice Department had found major infractions in the election, as noted by Pence himself. Then, on January 1, Trump expressed his concerns to Pence about his opposition to a lawsuit that aimed to establish Pence’s constitutional authority to reject or return votes. Trump even told Pence, “You’re too honest.” He then organized a peaceful protest on January 6 to rally his supporters against the election results.
NEW: Judas Pence Handed Jack Smith 'Personal Notes' Detailing Trump's Statements And Actions Post-Election? Did Jack help write them? https://t.co/g2pUGNXAWJ
— Patriotic 🇺🇸Suzanne⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@suzost) August 3, 2023
Despite a federal appeals court rejecting the lawsuit, Trump still engaged with Pence on January 3, persisting in his belief that Pence had the power to overturn the election. Trump remained steadfast in his commitment to ensuring the accuracy and fairness of the election results.
In a meeting on January 4, Trump made knowingly false claims of election fraud, insisting that he had won every state by hundreds of thousands of votes and questioning the legitimacy of the votes in Pennsylvania. Trump and another co-conspirator asked Pence to unilaterally reject electors or send the decision to the state legislatures.
When Pence refused to comply during a private meeting on January 5, Trump became frustrated and threatened to publicly criticize him. In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump expressed his disappointment in Pence, blaming him for not fighting against election fraud and stating that the recent indictment would prove his point.
It’s interesting to note that both Trump and Pence are now rivals for the 2024 presidential election. This indictment adds an extra layer of tension between the two. It’s clear that Trump believed Pence had the power to change the election outcome, but Pence resisted, and now they find themselves on opposite sides. Only time will tell how this indictment will impact their rivalry and the larger political landscape.
