Mike Pence is subpoenaed by the special counsel investigating Donald Trump

Washington: Former Vice President Mike Pence has been subpoenaed by the special counsel overseeing investigations into efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election, according to a person with direct knowledge of the event.

Pence’s subpoena as part of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation was served in recent days, according to the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on 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 supporters stormed the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 to stop Democrat Joe Biden’s victory.

Pence has been at the center of Trump’s efforts to stay in power after losing the 2020 election. Trump wrongly insisted that Pence, who had a ceremonial role in overseeing confirmation of the Jan. 6 election, could simply reject the results and send the results “back to the States.”

That day, Trump supporters, driven by the lie that the 2020 election was stolen, marched to the Capitol, brutally pushed past police and smashed windows and doors while Pence presided over the confirmation of Biden’s victory . The vice president was escorted to safety with his staff and family as some in the mob chanted “Hang Mike Pence!”

Attorney General Merrick Garland hired Smith, a former corruption prosecutor, in November as a special prosecutor to investigate Trump’s attempts to undermine his defeat, his actions leading up to the Jan. 6 riot in the Capitol, and his possession of classified documents after leaving office.

Federal prosecutors have been particularly focused on a scheme by Trump allies to levy rigged presidential elections won by Biden in key battleground states to undermine the vote by issuing subpoenas on several state Republican party leaders.

Federal prosecutors have brought several Trump administration officials before the grand jury for questioning, including former Trump White House adviser Pat Cipollone and Pence’s own former chief of staff, Marc Short.