Pence’s former top aide reportedly cooperating with Jan. 6 panel

By Jamie Gangel, Michael Warren and Ryan Nobles | CNN

Marc Short, the erstwhile main of unit to Vice President Mike Pence, is cooperating with the January 6 committee, a important improvement that volition springiness investigators penetration from 1 of the highest-ranking Trump officials, according to 3 sources with cognition of the committee’s activities.

CNN is besides reporting for the archetypal clip that the committee subpoenaed Short a fewer weeks ago.

Short remains 1 of Pence’s closest advisers and is simply a firsthand witnesser to galore captious events the committee is examining, including what happened to Pence astatine the Capitol connected January 6 and however erstwhile President Donald Trump pressured the erstwhile vice president not to certify the statesmanlike predetermination that day.

Short’s assistance signals a greater openness among Pence’s interior circle. One root told CNN the committee is getting “significant practice with Team Pence,” adjacent if the committee has not openly discussed that. Another root told CNN that Short’s assistance is an illustration of the “momentum” the probe is enjoying down the scenes.

Last month, CNN reported that a fig of figures adjacent to Pence, including Short, whitethorn beryllium willing, either voluntarily oregon nether the guise of a “friendly subpoena,” to cooperate with the committee.

Reached by telephone Monday and asked astir his cooperation, Short told CNN “no comment.” The prime committee declined to remark erstwhile reached by CNN.

Cooperation from a adjacent aide

Short is considered 1 of Pence’s astir loyal aides and has worked for the erstwhile vice president connected and disconnected for much than a decade, including erstwhile Pence was a subordinate of Congress. It’s unclear whether Short’s practice comes with Pence’s blessing. Before moving arsenic Pence’s main of staff, Short was Trump’s legislative manager for the archetypal 18 months of his presidency.

Short was with Pence for astir of January 6, including aft the vice president was rushed retired of the Senate enclosure and moved to a harmless determination beneath the Capitol. Rioters had breached successful to halt the certification of the statesmanlike election, and immoderate were chanting “hang Mike Pence.”

Short was besides successful the Oval Office connected January 4, erstwhile Trump and blimpish lawyer John Eastman tried to person Pence to hold the counting of the Electoral College votes.

Angry with Short’s relation successful backing Pence’s refusal to comply, Trump told others that helium banned Short from the White House aft the Capitol riot, arsenic CNN antecedently reported.

Interest successful the unit campaign

News of Short’s practice comes arsenic the committee continues to negociate with a fig of erstwhile Trump officials.

As CNN archetypal reported past week, erstwhile Trump main of unit Mark Meadows has agreed to cooperate with the committee, but the grade of his imaginable practice remains unclear, arsenic helium continues to asseverate enforcement privilege.

CNN has besides reported that Greg Jacob, Pence’s erstwhile wide counsel, has emerged arsenic a idiosyncratic of important involvement to the committee. Jacob played a captious relation successful persuading the erstwhile vice president to certify the electoral results.

Both Jacob and Short forcefully pushed backmost against the arguments from Eastman, who leaned connected fringe ineligible theories successful a arguable memo laying retired however helium claimed the vice president could overturn the election.

Along with Short, the committee considers Jacob a invaluable fact-witness successful its investigation.