Former Vice President Mike Pence indicated Wednesday morning that he would consider testifying before the select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The results of the 2020 election, which he and Trump lost, told a crowd at Saint Anselm College that he would consider testifying if invited. “If there was an invitation to participate, I would consider it,” Pence said. “But you heard me mention the Constitution a few times this morning. (Through) the Constitution, we have three co-equal branches of government and any invitation that would be directed at me, I would have to think about that.”>> View Pence’s full speech “It would be unprecedented in history for a vice the president will be subpoenaed to testify on Capitol Hill,” Pence continued. “But like I said, I don’t want to prejudge. If you ever extend a formal invitation to us, we would consider it.” , a high-profile event held periodically with major players in local and national politics. Typical speakers may include future presidential candidates. The political science professor of St. Anselm, Dr. Chris Galdieri, attended the event and said the remarks were not designed as a line of applause. , but had a target audience. “I think Pence is really trying to divide the difference among Trump supporters, appealing to people who voted for Trump and Pence in the 1916s and 20s, but also presenting himself as a more mainstream Republican. Galdieri said. Galdieri said Pence, who spent the day criss-crossing the Granite State, gave himself the ability to navigate both sides of the equation as he considers a run in 2024. But Galdieri said it wouldn’t be unprecedented for a vice president or former vice president Dent to testify before a congressional committee.” I also thought some of his comments were a little odd because he’s no longer part of the executive branch, he’s a private citizen, and congress can subpoena private citizens,” Galdieri said. He said it had happened before, noting that others — administration officials, such as Bill Barr, have already testified. “So it might be kind of a giveaway to say that I would be willing to talk to them because he knows that so far, they haven’t really expressed much interest in it,” Galdieri said. For his part, the former vice president told WMUR’s political director in a one-on-one interview that he believes “the American people can make your own judi ci about what happened that day, and I think most Americans have.” Note that if Republicans take back the House in November, which he said the odds favor at this point, the Jan. 6 Committee would dissolve in January, eliminating the need for Pence to even consider testifying. Pence also spoke at the event in 2019 during Trump’s re-election campaign.
MANCHESTER, NH —
Former Vice President Mike Pence indicated Wednesday morning that he would consider testifying before the select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Pence, who drew the ire of former President Donald Trump’s supporters when he played a role in certifying the results of the 2020 election, which he and Trump lost, told a crowd at Saint Anselm College that he would consider declare if they invited him.
“If there was an invitation to participate, I would consider it,” Pence said. “But you heard me mention the Constitution a few times this morning. (Through) the Constitution, we have three co-equal branches of government and any invitation that would be directed at me, I would have to reflect on that.”
>> Watch Pence’s full speech
“It would be unprecedented in history for a vice president to be subpoenaed to testify on Capitol Hill,” Pence continued. “But like I said, I don’t want to prejudge. If we ever get a formal invitation, we’ll take it into consideration.”
Pence was at Saint Anselm College for the latest “Politics and Eggs” breakfast, a high-profile event held regularly with major players in local and national politics. Typical speakers may include future presidential candidates.
St. Anselm political science professor Dr. Chris Galdieri attended the event and said the remarks were not designed as a punch line, but had an intended audience.
“I think Pence is really trying to split the difference between Trump supporters, appealing to people who voted for Trump and Pence in ’16 and ’20, but also presenting himself as a more mainstream Republican,” Galdieri said.
Galdieri said Pence, who spent the day criss-crossing the Granite State, gave himself the ability to navigate both sides of the equation as he considers a 2024 run.
But Galdieri said it would not be unprecedented for a vice president or former vice president to testify before a congressional committee.
“I also thought some of his comments were a little strange because he’s no longer part of the executive branch, he’s a private citizen, and Congress can subpoena private citizens,” Galdieri said.
He said it has happened before and notes that other senior administration officials, such as Bill Barr, have already testified.
“So it might be kind of a gift to say that I would be willing to talk to them because he knows that so far, they haven’t really expressed much interest in it,” Galdieri said.
For his part, the former vice president told WMUR’s political director in a one-on-one interview that he believes “the American people can make their own judgment about what happened that day, and I think most Americans Americans have done it.”
The professor said to consider if Republicans take back the House in November, which he said the odds favor at this point, the Jan. 6 Committee would dissolve in January, eliminating the need for Pence to even consider declare
Pence also spoke at the event in 2019 during Trump’s re-election campaign.
