(NewsNation) — Former Vice President Mike Pence was allegedly subpoenaed by a special counsel leading investigations into former President Donald Trump, according to multiple reports.
The investigations into Trump and his former allies revolve around his alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, sources told the Associated Press. The subpoena to Pence as part of the investigation by special counsel Jack Smith was served in recent days, according to a person who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity Thursday to discuss a sensitive issue.
The extraordinary scenario of a former vice president potentially testifying against his former boss in a criminal investigation comes as Pence considers launching a 2024 presidential bid against Trump. The two have been estranged since a mob of Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, while Congress was certifying Joe Biden’s election victory.
The subpoena was first reported by ABC News.
NewsNation is working to independently confirm these reports. The office of the special counsel declined to comment.
The subpoena is an aggressive step from a prosecutor who for years led the Justice Department’s public corruption section and who oversaw indictments against major political figures. The move sets the stage for a likely executive privilege fight, given Pence’s close proximity to Trump for four years as major decisions were being contemplated and planned. It is unclear whether efforts to secure voluntary testimony from Pence stalled before the subpoena was issued.
Smith, who was named special counsel in November by Attorney General Merrick Garland, has been tasked with overseeing investigations into Trump’s attempts to subvert his defeat, his actions leading up to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol and his possession of top-secret government documents at his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago.
Federal prosecutors have been especially focused on a scheme by Trump allies to elevate fake presidential electors in key battleground states won by Biden as a way to subvert the vote, issuing subpoenas to multiple state Republican party chairs.
Federal prosecutors have brought multiple Trump administration officials before the grand jury for questioning, including former Trump White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Pence’s own former chief of staff, Marc Short.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This story is developing. Refresh for updates.