Mike Pence made simultaneous recordings of his meetings with Donald Trump before the infamous January 6th riots. Credit: AP/Alex Brandon
Mike Pence may be a key witness in Donald Trump's trial after it was revealed he was making secret recordings of their conversations ahead of the US Capitol riot.
The former vice president was taking notes as his boss tried to force him to help coup the 2020 election results.
Mr. Trump faces four charges, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct official proceedings, with a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. He was due to appear in court in Washington on Thursday, either in person or via video link.
The four charges against Donald Trump in the Jan. 6 indictment
Mr. Pence was not previously known to have taken notes, and they were detailed in the 45-page indictment against Mr. Trump. These recordings will be key to establishing Mr. Trump's state of mind at the time.
During the trial, prosecutors will have to prove that Mr. Trump had criminal intent, in particular that he knew about the allegations he circulated about a rigged election were false.
John Lauro, Mr. Trump's lawyer, said: «We expect him [Mr. Pence] to be a witness.»
He added: “Mr. Pence is a lawyer. He never once said: «Mr. Trump, what you are asking me is criminal, don't do it.»
Republicans rallied around Trump
This was Trump's third accusation after he no longer pleaded guilty guilty of charges related to possession of classified documents, and payment of money for silence to porn star Stormy Daniels.
After the latest indictment, many Republicans rallied around Trump again, accusing the Biden administration of using the justice system as a weapon against the current president's top political opponent.
Mr. Trump said: «I've never had so much support to something sooner.»
Ron DeSantis, his top contender for the 2024 Republican nomination, said, «One of the reasons our country is in decline is the politicization of the rule of law.»
«No more excuses — I will end the weaponization of the federal government.»
Mr. DeSantis added that Washington was «a swamp» and it was «unfair to be tried by a jury that speculates of a swamp mentality.»
Mr. Lauro said Mr. Trump's legal team would try to reschedule business from Washington, possibly to West Virginia.
He said, “It's more diverse than Washington, DC, which I think is 95 percent for Mr. Trump. Biden.»
«We won every state.»
According to the indictment, days before the January 6, 2021 riots, there was a series of phone calls between Trump and Pence.
< p>According to Mr. Pence's notes, during a December 29, 2020 call, Mr. Trump falsely said to his Vice President that «the Department of Justice [detected] serious irregularities» in the election.
During another call, Mr. Pence told Mr. Trump that he could not use his ceremonial authority on January 6, to change the result.
At one point, according to his notes, Mr. Trump told him that he was «too honest.» made deliberately false claims of electoral fraud» at the January 4 meeting.
Mr. Trump is alleged to have said, «The bottom line is, we won every state by a 100,000 vote margin» and «We won every state.»
Eventually, on January 6, 2021, Mr. Pence confirmed the election results, ending Mr. Trump's Defeat and his own defeat.
Following the allegations this week, Mr. Pence said: “Anyone who puts himself above the Constitution should never be President of the United States. Our country is more important than one person.”
Mr. Trump and Mr. Pence, who have served him faithfully for four years, have spectacularly fallen out over the former president’s efforts to reverse the 2020 election results.
According to Mr. Pence's notes, during a private meeting on Jan. 5, 2021, Mr. Trump was «disappointed» with him and said he would have to publicly criticize his number two.Concerned about Mr. Pence's safety , his chief of staff Mark Short alerted the head of the vice president's secret service.
The next day when they attacked the Capitol, some of Trump's supporters chanted «Hang Mike Pence» and Mr. Pence and his family were taken to a safe place.
For many who stormed the Capitol on January 6, Mike Pence was the target when they expressed their feelings. Credit: The Washington Post/Jabin Botsford
Mr. Pence is now the 2024 Republican nominee, but is well behind Mr. Trump in the polls.
«The US has become like a banana republic»
Republicans in Congress defend Mr. Trump as the victim of a politically motivated prosecution.
Kevin McCarthy, Speaker of the House of Representatives from the Republican Party, said: «Just yesterday, a new poll showed that President Trump is, without a doubt, Biden's main political opponent.»
«Everyone in America could see what was coming next.» “The Department of Justice is attempting to divert attention from the news and attack the leader of the Republican nomination, President Trump.”
Other Republicans said this was evidence that the US had become like a “banana republic” and argued that Biden should be impeached for «interference in the election.»
Richard Hasen, professor of law at UCLA, called the case unique.
He said: «It's hard to overestimate the stakes on this indictment and prosecution. This is possibly the most important indictment ever brought to defend American democracy and the rule of law in any U.S. court against anyone.
“It would not be an exaggeration to say that the conduct of this prosecution will greatly impact the United States will remain a thriving democracy beyond 2024.”
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