A recent filing has brought to light alarming details regarding former President Donald Trump's attempts to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence into overturning the 2020 election results. The filing discloses a meeting between Trump and Pence on January 5, where Trump allegedly urged Pence not to certify the electoral college votes.
According to the document, Pence confided in an individual referred to as 'P8' about Trump's threats, prompting P8 to notify Pence's Secret Service detail. On the morning of January 6, just before delivering a speech at the Ellipse, Trump once again tried to coerce Pence into interfering with the certification process. Despite Trump's pressure, Pence remained steadfast in his decision not to intervene.
Special Counsel Jack Smith has argued that a tweet posted by Trump during the Capitol riot, targeting Pence for his refusal to overturn the election results, should not be shielded by presidential immunity. The tweet, which accused Pence of lacking courage, was viewed as a personal attack by Trump as a candidate for office.
The filing also suggests that Trump was aware of the illegality of his request for Pence to block the certification. When informed that Pence had been moved to a secure location during the Capitol riot, Trump callously responded with 'So what?'. These revelations underscore the extent of Trump's efforts to sway the election outcome and his apparent disregard for Pence's safety and well-being.