Former Vice President Mike Pence took contemporaneous notes of his conversations with Donald Trump in the turbulent days preceding January 6, 2021, as revealed in the explosive new indictment against the ex-president.
Pence’s previously undisclosed notes are cited as key evidence of Trump’s alleged efforts to pressure his VP to overturn the election. According to Special Counsel Jack Smith, Trump used “knowingly false” fraud claims to push Pence to reject electoral votes for Joe Biden.
The indictment details numerous calls and meetings where Trump demanded Pence block certification, despite repeated refusals. On December 25, Trump turned a holiday call toward his election gambit, which Pence rebuffed.
Days later, Trump falsely claimed the DOJ uncovered major infractions. In a New Year’s Day meeting, Pence reiterated his lack of authority to change results, to Trump’s frustration.
January 3 brought a new plan for Pence to send slates to state legislatures, which Pence opposed. The next day, Pence, Short and Jacob met with Trump, who allegedly made more false assertions.
Notes show Trump asking about 205,000 more Pennsylvania votes than voters, a claim DOJ officials previously debunked. The White House counsel was excluded, as he had rejected Trump’s fraud claims.
Trump later publicly excoriated Pence, stoking supporters’ rage ahead of the deadly Capitol riot. The former VP accused Trump of elevating himself over country and Constitution. He stressed Trump’s right to innocence but said another run would distract from pressing issues.
For Pence, the indictment spotlights Trump’s alleged attempts to co-opt his VP position for personal gain through relentless pressure and deception. But with the truth now emerging, Pence aims to move the country beyond this dark chapter.