Committee aides said the hearing would make the case that Trump's pressure campaign against Pence had "directly contributed" to the violence on January 6, which placed Pence's life in danger as rioters chanted, " Hang Mike Pence ." The hearing will focus on Trump attorney John Eastman 's theory that Pence had the authority to overturn the election results when Congress certified Joe Biden's victory on January 6, 2021. Earlier this year, the committee's chairman, Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, had suggested the committee would seek testimony from Pence. Short, Pence's former top aide, spoke to the committee via deposition, and committee aides said they expect to use portions of his interview during Thursday's hearing. The committee postponed its planned hearing on Wednesday, which was to have focused on the Justice Department.

Source: CNN June 17, 2022 03:53 UTC