On Thursday evening, news broke that former President Donald Trump was indicted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg following his investigation into the “hush money” paid to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016.
Trump is also facing Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Justice Department probes into his alleged mishandling of classified documents under the Espionage Act as well as his conduct during the January 6 “insurrection” at the Capitol.
During Thursday night’s CNN special, anchor Wolf Blitzer interviewed former Vice President Mike Pence and grilled him on why he has avoided testifying against Trump in the January 6 investigation.
He asked Pence, “So, if you have nothing to hide, why not testify?”
The former vice president replied, “Well, look, I’m going to obey the law. And I’ve been speaking very openly, and written very extensively, about the events, leading up to January 6, and on January 6, and will continue to.”
Pence added, “And, as I said, we’re going to review that decision. We’ll have — we’ll make a judgment about the best way forward. But I really am very pleased that that the federal judge agreed with our position, and recognized that the Constitution Speech and Debate protections apply to the Vice President.”
Blitzer continued to press so hard that Pence finally remarked, “You’re good at this, Wolf. I know you’re driving for an answer.”
To which Blitzer immediately clapped back, “The American people want an answer too. It’s not just me.”
WATCH:
Transcript as follows:
BLITZER: I want to turn to the Justice Department Special Counsel’s investigation–
PENCE: Sure.
BLITZER: –of January 6. As you know, a federal judge has ruled that you must testify, about your conversations, with President Trump, up until that day. Will you testify?
PENCE: Well, obviously, I can’t talk about it much, given the nature of the grand jury proceedings.
But what I can say is that I’m very pleased that a federal judge, for the very first time, recognized that the Constitution Speech and Debate protections apply, to the Vice President of the United States, when you’re serving as President of the Senate. That was the core of my concern, about the subpoena being brought.
I’m meeting tomorrow with our attorneys, to review that decision. We’ll make a decision, in the coming days. But I have nothing to hide, Wolf.
BLITZER: So, if you have nothing to hide, why not testify?
PENCE: Well, look, I’m going to obey the law. And I’ve been speaking very openly, and written very extensively, about the events, leading up to January 6, and on January 6, and will continue to.
And, as I said, we’re going to review that decision. We’ll have — we’ll make a judgment about the best way forward. But I really am very pleased that that the federal judge agreed with our position, and recognized that the Constitution Speech and Debate protections–
BLITZER: But that federal judge only agreed–
PENCE: –apply to the Vice President.
BLITZER: –that you don’t have to testify, about what happened, on January 6, when you were serving, according to the Constitution, the Vice President, as also President of the U.S. Senate. But you have to testify, on the conversations you had, with Trump, leading up to January 6.
PENCE: Well, that’s what we’re going to be reviewing, tomorrow. And again, I can’t get in detail about the judge’s opinion.
BLITZER: What does your instinct tell you–?
PENCE: But–
BLITZER: What do you think you should do?
PENCE: Well, you’re good at this, Wolf. I know you’re driving for an answer. We’re going to have an answer, in the next several days, about the best way forward.
BLITZER: The American people want an answer too. It’s not just me.
PENCE: And I — they’ll have an answer. And I promise you that we’ll follow the rule of law. But I want to carefully reflect on what the judge decided, and — but, at the end of the day, we’re going to obey the law. And I’ll continue to do, as I’ve done, speaking about those events.
BLITZER: The judge you should testify, as far as the events leading up to January 6, your conversations with Trump. That’s what the judge said.
PENCE: Well?
BLITZER: The rule of law would be to honor that, right?
PENCE: Well, look, the rule of law also includes the possibility of appeal.
BLITZER: So, might you appeal?
PENCE: So, we’re giving some consideration to that as well.
BLITZER: But you haven’t decided finally?
PENCE: We have not.
