Mike Pence would consider testifying to January 6 Capitol attack panel


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Former US vice president Mike Pence on Wednesday said he would consider testifying before the House of Representatives committee investigating the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, if he were invited to do so.

Aides to Mr Pence told the panel in June that former president Donald Trump pressured him to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

Mr Pence has said he believes Mr Trump was wrong to believe the vice president had the power to reverse the outcome of the election, the results of which were being certified by Mr Pence and legislators when the Capitol came under attack.

Mr Trump has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

  • Representative Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House select committee to investigate the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, leads a meeting on Capitol Hill. Bloomberg
    Representative Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House select committee to investigate the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, leads a meeting on Capitol Hill. Bloomberg
  • Jamie Raskin and Liz Cheney in discussion. The committee has bene set up to investigate what was behind more than 2,000 supporters of Donald Trump storming the Capitol Building in Washington. Bloomberg
    Jamie Raskin and Liz Cheney in discussion. The committee has bene set up to investigate what was behind more than 2,000 supporters of Donald Trump storming the Capitol Building in Washington. Bloomberg
  • The Trump supporters were answering his call to 'fight like hell' to stop Congress from validating Joe Biden’s presidential victory. EPA
    The Trump supporters were answering his call to 'fight like hell' to stop Congress from validating Joe Biden’s presidential victory. EPA
  • Liz Cheney, Bennie Thompson and Jamie Raskin consider a report at a meeting. EPA
    Liz Cheney, Bennie Thompson and Jamie Raskin consider a report at a meeting. EPA
  • Jamie Raskin alongside Elaine Luria. AFP
    Jamie Raskin alongside Elaine Luria. AFP
  • Zoe Lofgren speaks alongside Adam Schiff at the committee meeting. AFP
    Zoe Lofgren speaks alongside Adam Schiff at the committee meeting. AFP
  • Republicans Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger were censured by their party for involvement in the committee probe. AFP
    Republicans Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger were censured by their party for involvement in the committee probe. AFP
  • Stephanie Grisham, former White House press secretary under former president Donald Trump, leaves after a meeting with the January 6 Committee. Reuters
    Stephanie Grisham, former White House press secretary under former president Donald Trump, leaves after a meeting with the January 6 Committee. Reuters
  • Roger Stone, a former adviser and confidante to former president Donald Trump, arrives in Washington. AFP
    Roger Stone, a former adviser and confidante to former president Donald Trump, arrives in Washington. AFP
  • Former White House chief strategist in the Trump administration Steve Bannon surrendered to authorities after being indicted on two counts of contempt of Congress for defying the January 6 Committee. EPA
    Former White House chief strategist in the Trump administration Steve Bannon surrendered to authorities after being indicted on two counts of contempt of Congress for defying the January 6 Committee. EPA

One of Mr Pence's senior aides has testified to the committee, and his chief of staff at the time, Marc Short, testified before a federal grand jury investigating the attack. The committee, however, has not publicly extended an invitation to Mr Pence.

Speaking at an event in New Hampshire on Wednesday, Mr Pence said he would give any invitation to testify "due consideration".

"Any invitation that would be directed to me, I would have to reflect on the unique role I was serving in as vice president," Mr Pence told people gathered for a 'Politics & Eggs' breakfast at Saint Anselm College.

A January 6 committee representative did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment but members of the committee in June said they were considering whether to compel Mr Pence to testify.

Mr Pence on Wednesday said it "would be unprecedented in history for a vice president to be summoned to testify on Capitol Hill".

The US Senate website shows that Schuyler Colfax voluntarily appeared before a House select committee in January 1873 while vice president to Ulysses S Grant from 1869 to 1873.

At least six current and former presidents have also testified before congressional committees, the website shows.

  • 'There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonour will remain.' Congresswoman and January 6 committee vice chairwoman Liz Cheney to Republican colleagues who have defended Mr Trump's claims of election fraud. AFP
    'There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonour will remain.' Congresswoman and January 6 committee vice chairwoman Liz Cheney to Republican colleagues who have defended Mr Trump's claims of election fraud. AFP
  • 'January 6 was the culmination of an attempted coup - a brazen attempt, as one rioter put it shortly after January 6 - to overthrow the government.' Committee chairman Bennie Thompson. EPA
    'January 6 was the culmination of an attempted coup - a brazen attempt, as one rioter put it shortly after January 6 - to overthrow the government.' Committee chairman Bennie Thompson. EPA
  • Mr Trump 'was willing to sacrifice our republic to prolong his presidency. I can imagine no more dishonourable acts by a president.' Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger. AFP
    Mr Trump 'was willing to sacrifice our republic to prolong his presidency. I can imagine no more dishonourable acts by a president.' Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger. AFP
  • Donald Trump had this 'arsenal of allegations. I went through them piece by piece to say, no, they were not true'. Former acting deputy attorney general Richard Donoghue. EPA
    Donald Trump had this 'arsenal of allegations. I went through them piece by piece to say, no, they were not true'. Former acting deputy attorney general Richard Donoghue. EPA
  • 'There were no votes to find.' Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger after Donald Trump asked him and his deputy, Gabriel Sterling, to 'find 11,780' votes that could flip Georgia in the president's favour. AFP
    'There were no votes to find.' Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger after Donald Trump asked him and his deputy, Gabriel Sterling, to 'find 11,780' votes that could flip Georgia in the president's favour. AFP
  • Competing against Donald Trump’s lies was like a 'shovel trying to empty the ocean'. Gabriel Sterling, Georgia Secretary of State chief operating officer. AFP
    Competing against Donald Trump’s lies was like a 'shovel trying to empty the ocean'. Gabriel Sterling, Georgia Secretary of State chief operating officer. AFP
  • 'As an American, I was disgusted. It was unpatriotic, it was un-American. We were watching the Capitol building get defaced over a lie.' Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to then White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, speaking about the insurrection. AFP
    'As an American, I was disgusted. It was unpatriotic, it was un-American. We were watching the Capitol building get defaced over a lie.' Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to then White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, speaking about the insurrection. AFP
  • 'I told him [Donald Trump] that the stuff his people were shovelling out to the public was bull***t.' Former attorney general William Barr. AP
    'I told him [Donald Trump] that the stuff his people were shovelling out to the public was bull***t.' Former attorney general William Barr. AP
  • 'I respect attorney general Barr. So, I accepted what he was saying.' Ivanka Trump, former White House senior adviser. AP
    'I respect attorney general Barr. So, I accepted what he was saying.' Ivanka Trump, former White House senior adviser. AP
  • 'We fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country any more.' Donald Trump on January 6, 2021. Reuters
    'We fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country any more.' Donald Trump on January 6, 2021. Reuters
  • A Confederate battle flag that reads 'Come and Take It' and shows a military-style rifle flies as rioters storm the Capitol on January 6, 2001. Reuters
    A Confederate battle flag that reads 'Come and Take It' and shows a military-style rifle flies as rioters storm the Capitol on January 6, 2001. Reuters
  • A Trump supporter sprays smoke. Reuters
    A Trump supporter sprays smoke. Reuters
  • Police attempt to push the mob back. AFP
    Police attempt to push the mob back. AFP
  • The pro-Trump mob swarms the Capitol as police release tear gas. Reuters
    The pro-Trump mob swarms the Capitol as police release tear gas. Reuters
  • Protesters clash with police. Reuters
    Protesters clash with police. Reuters
  • Pro-Trump protesters storm into the US Capitol. Reuters
    Pro-Trump protesters storm into the US Capitol. Reuters
  • A police flash-bang blast lights up the Capitol. Reuters
    A police flash-bang blast lights up the Capitol. Reuters
  • Before the insurrection, Mr Trump is seen on a screen speaking to supporters during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results. Reuters
    Before the insurrection, Mr Trump is seen on a screen speaking to supporters during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results. Reuters
  • People march with those who say they are members of the Proud Boys as they attend a rally in Washington in support of former president Donald Trump. AP
    People march with those who say they are members of the Proud Boys as they attend a rally in Washington in support of former president Donald Trump. AP
Updated: August 18, 2022, 5:41 AM