The top of the Home Democratic Caucus desires to make public the testimony former Vice President Mike Pence gave to a grand jury surrounding the assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), who was additionally a member of the particular committee that investigated the rampage within the final Congress, argued that Pence may lend distinctive insights into the ideas and actions of then-President Trump within the lead-up to the assault, which was perpetrated by Trump supporters making an attempt to dam the certification of President Biden’s victory within the 2020 election.
“I agree with Liz Cheney that all of the records should be preserved from the grand jury,” Aguilar instructed reporters Tuesday morning within the Capitol.
“I think that as much that can be made public should be made public, including the testimony of Vice President Pence to the grand jury,” he continued. “We should know exactly what Donald Trump said leading up to Jan. 6, 2021.”
Pence, as Trump’s vp, presided over the method to certify the 2020 election outcomes throughout a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6, when he rebuffed Trump’s entreaties to disclaim the electoral school tally from sure battleground states the place Trump made false claims of election fraud. Because of this, Pence turned a prime goal of sure members of the violent mob, a few of whom chanted “hang Mike Pence” throughout the riot. Trump, who was watching the assault on tv from the White Home, reportedly expressed assist for Pence’s demise.
Below Biden, the Justice Division appointed Jack Smith as particular counsel to analyze two federal instances of alleged felony conduct by Trump, together with his actions surrounding the Jan. 6 assault. Smith introduced final month he’ll wind down these investigations, subject a ultimate report and resign earlier than Trump takes workplace — an anticipated transfer after Trump’s election victory as a result of DOJ coverage dictates a sitting president can’t be charged with a criminal offense.
Aguilar, becoming a member of others on the investigative panel, stated the general public deserves to know what data Smith and his workforce gathered earlier than the probe ends.
“It’s important that the American people hear that for the complete record,” he stated.
The Jan. 6 committee, which launched its ultimate report in late 2022, concluded Trump was the driving pressure behind the violence on the Capitol 4 years in the past. That willpower has made the 9 members of the panel targets of Trump and his supporters. And on Sunday, Trump advocated for prosecuting these concerned within the investigation — a menace that’s sparked new debate over whether or not Biden ought to pardon these lawmakers preemptively earlier than he leaves the White Home.
Aguilar stated he hasn’t been in any talks with the administration about these potential pardons. He stated he’s ready to face behind the work the committee carried out and the conclusions it reached.
“I did my job. I think the other committee members all feel that we did our job,” Aguilar stated.
“We upheld the rule of law, we talked about the importance of [the] peaceful transfer of power. But we also highlighted everything that the former president did along the way to stop that, to prevent that, including threats to his own vice president.”
