USA: In connection with a criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump's efforts to retain power after losing the 2020 election, the US Department of Justice wants to question former Vice President Mike Pence as a witness, according to The New York Times. who cited people familiar with the situation.

The newspaper reported Wednesday that Pence is willing to consider the request, in light of the fact that the Justice Department's investigation is separate from the House of Representatives' probe into the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.

Ahead of Attorney General Merrick Garland appointing a special counsel on Friday to oversee the Jan. 6 probe and a separate investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents, Thomas Windom, a lead investigator probing efforts to subvert the election, told Pence Contacted the team.

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According to the newspaper, the discussion of questioning Pence is still in the initial stages. The process could take months because Pence has not been subpoenaed, and Trump could try to obstruct or delay his testimony by invoking executive privilege.

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According to Pence, Trump made the mistake of thinking that the former vice president had the ability to change the outcome of the 2020 election.
Trump supporters stormed the Capitol as Pence and lawmakers were certifying the election results, after weeks of false claims the former president had won the vote.

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Pence previously said that, if requested, he would consider testifying before the congressional committee probing the Capitol attack, but later clarified that he believed the panel had a "partisan taint". .