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Trump, who had already increased pressure on Pence to steal the election, warned him that it would be politically “damaging” for Pence to refuse to block the certification, according to a source familiar with the conversation.
Pence graciously informed Trump during the meeting that there is no power for him to derail the process, the source added.
The vice president went on to tell Trump that there are outliers that say authority exists, but the White House General Counsel’s Office has told Pence that it does not have that authority, according to this source who was briefed on the conversation. The meeting at the White House came after Pence met with the Senate MP earlier this week to discuss his role in the proceedings.
Sources told CNN that the vice president is expected to make statements in support of Trump’s efforts to challenge the results while unfoundedly alleging the results are fraudulent.
A Trump senior adviser added that Pence could take a more aggressive stance than had been anticipated, saying the vice president is likely to avoid an overly robotic performance that would anger Trump and his political base.
“It’s not going to be a wallflower,” said the assessor.
Pence left the White House around 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, indicating that he will not see the results of the United States Senate runoff races in Georgia with Trump.
The absence of a bystander may be more in line with the current state of their relationship, given Trump’s growing frustration with Pence over his role, or lack of, in Wednesday’s proceedings. Pence and Trump dined together early Tuesday as officials prepared for Trump’s reaction to the congressional certification.
“I could say he doesn’t have the power to do certain things,” the adviser said, anticipating that Pence is expected to explain that the constitution allows him to go to some degree in channeling Trump’s feelings about the election.
Meanwhile, a source close to the Senate Republican leadership and familiar with thinking within the orbit of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the prevailing view is that Pence’s role is “ceremonial” and nothing more.
Trump has repeatedly raised with his loyal vice president the notion that he could delay or obstruct Electoral College certification, people familiar with the talks say, establishing proof of Pence’s loyalty at the culmination of his four years of service.
Trump, relying on the arguments of a fringe group of lawyers and certain White House officials, has argued that instead of simply acting in his constitutionally prescribed pro forma role, Pence could delay certification beyond Wednesday and ultimately , force the question of who won the elections either the House of Representatives or the Supreme Court.
“Let them sue” was the group’s message to Trump, leading him to believe that he could end up in the Supreme Court again.
Trump appeared unfazed and made his wishes explicit on Twitter on Tuesday.
“The vice president has the power to turn down fraudulently elected voters,” Trump falsely stated, lending credence to a flawed theory that Pence may override election results during Wednesday’s Electoral College vote recount and again pressuring his chief lieutenant to act outside the constitution. limits.
Trump’s Twitter message came the morning after he angered a crowd of supporters in Georgia by using Pence’s upcoming Senate engagement.
“I hope Mike Pence helps us, I have to tell him,” Trump said Monday night during a political rally in Georgia, where his public applause was met with cheers. “Of course, if he doesn’t make it, I won’t like him that much.”
This story has been updated with additional background information.
CNN’s Caroline Kelly and Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.
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