John Eastman, lawyer who pushed Pence to overturn election, sought pardon after Jan. 6
John Eastman, the attorney who repeatedly claimed former Vice President Mike Pence had the power to overturn the 2020 election, suggested not long after the Capitol riot that he receive a presidential pardon, the Jan. 6 committee revealed during its third public hearing on Thursday.
The panel on Thursday shared video testimony from top White House adviser and lawyer Eric Herschmann, who said Eastman kept pushing for a way to overturn President Biden's win. "And I said to him, 'Are you out of your effing mind?'" Herschmann told the committee of the pair's conversation. After urging Eastman to focus instead on an orderly transition of position, Herschmann advised that his counterpart "get a great effing criminal defense lawyer" because "you're going to need it." "And I hung up on him," Herschmann continued.
Then, a few days later, per the committee, Eastman emailed former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani requesting a pardon from Trump. "I've decided that I should be on the pardon list if that is still in the works," Eastman wrote. In the end, he was not on the president's list.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Much of Thursday's hearing revolved around Eastman's sustained push for Pence to overturn the election, despite his understanding his argument lacked legal merit. Investigators also discussed Trump's attempts to pressure Pence into listening to Eastman.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 3, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
North Korea tests ICBM, readies troops in Ukraine
Speed Read Thousands of North Korean troops are likely to join Russian action against Ukraine
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Women take center stage in campaign finale
Speed Read Harris and Trump are trading gender attacks in the final days before the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Supreme Court allows purge of Virginia voter rolls
Speed Read Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) is purging some 1,600 people from state voter rolls days before the election
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Empowered' Steve Bannon released from prison
Speed Read Bannon was set free a week before Election Day and quickly returned to his right-wing podcast to promote Trump
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Canada accuses top Modi ally of directing Sikh attacks
Speed Read Indian Home Minister Amit Shah was allegedly behind a campaign of violence and intimidation targeting Sikh separatists
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Harris makes closing case in huge rally at DC's Ellipse
Speed Read The Democratic nominee asked voters to "turn the page" on Trump's "division" and "chaos"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'I am not a Nazi,' Trump says amid MSG rally fallout
Speed Read Trump and his campaign are attempting to stem the fallout from comments made by speakers at Sunday's rally
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published