(Headline USA) In the midst of classified document scandal that has beset President Joe Biden, who recently let a China spy balloon fly across the U.S., attention is being deflected by issuing a subpoena to former Vice President Mike Pence.
The diversionary action was taken by the partisan special counsel overseeing investigations into efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election, according to a person with direct knowledge of the event.
The subpoena to Pence as part of the investigation by special counsel Jack Smith was served in recent days, according to the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday to discuss a sensitive issue.
The prospect of a former vice president potentially testifying against his former boss in a criminal investigation comes as Pence considers launching a 2024 Republican presidential bid against Trump. The two have been estranged since Pence backed away from supporting Trump’s fight to prevent the 2020 election from being stolen by Democrats.
The subpoena is an aggressive step from a partisan prosecutor who has a history of targeting conservatives. The move sets the stage for a likely executive privilege fight, given Pence’s close proximity to Trump for four years as major decisions were being contemplated and planned. It is unclear whether efforts to secure voluntary testimony from Pence stalled before the subpoena was issued.
Spokespeople for Pence and Smith declined to comment on the issuance of the subpoena, which was first reported by ABC News.
Smith was named special counsel in November by Attorney General Merrick Garland, after the FBI launched an unprecedented militarized raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home.
In a sign of the expanding nature of the witch hunt, election officials in multiple states whose results were disputed by Trump have received subpoenas asking for communications with or involving Trump and his campaign aides.
A Democrat House committee investigating the Jan. 6 uprising recommended that the Justice Department bring criminal charges against Trump and associates who helped him launch a pressure campaign to try to overturn his 2020 election loss. That politically driven decision is being sidelined by a GOP House, which has rightfully turned its attention on investigating the shady dealings of the Biden clan and the weaponization of the federal government.
Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press
