Special Counsel Investigating Trump’s Classified Documents Subpoenas Pence

Former vice President Mike Pence has received a subpoena from the special counsel appointed to investigate former President Donald Trump’s classified documents case, according to ABC News.

Multiple sources familiar with the case told ABC News that special counsel Jack Smith subpoenaed Pence in a bid to get documents and testimony related to Trump’s challenge of the 2020 presidential election results. It’s not clear at this point why Smith needs the information or if they had any connection to the former president’s classified documents investigation.

The subpoena comes after months of negotiations between Pence’s legal team and federal prosecutors. A spokesperson for Pence did not respond to ABC News’ request for comments.

However, Smith’s effort to get the information could face a significant stumbling block if Pence decides to invoke claims of executive privilege over the information. Pence seeking to invoke executive privilege could lead to a contentious and prolonged legal battle.

Pence previously stated that he would not testify before the January 6 select committee because Congress had no right to his testimony. Pence said his refusal was due to the fact that the committee members were appointed by one party.

“I served for twelve years in the Congress. It’s inconceivable to me that one party would appoint every member of a committee in Congress; that’s antithetical to that whole idea of the committee system. That being said, I never stood in the way of senior members of my team cooperating with the committee and testifying,” Pence said.

Pence added that he believes appearing before the committee would “establish a terrible precedent” for Congress to summon a vice president to talk about discussions at the White House.

Lawyers for Pence recently found documents with classified markings at the former vice president’s home.

Pence’s lawyers revealed that he had ordered a review of documents at his house following the discovery of classified documents at President Joe Biden’s home and offices.