Why Trump's special counsel subpoenaed Mike Pence

The special counsel investigating Donald Trump subpoenas Mike Pence; Russia fires missiles at Ukraine over Moldovan airspace.

Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin.

A subpoena for Mike Pence

John Lamparski/Getty Images

• The special counsel investigating Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election subpoenaed former Vice President Mike Pence for testimony and documents. [ABC News / Katherine Faulders and John Santucci]
• Special counsel Jack Smith wants to know about the events leading up to  January 6, 2021, and about Trump pressuring Pence to refuse to certify President Joe Biden’s victory. [NBC News / Kristen Welker, Laura Jarrett and Matt Korade]
• The subpoena follows months of negotiations and represents a significant escalation in the Justice Department’s investigation. Pence could claim executive privilege to avoid discussing some matters. [CNN / Kaitlan Collins, Evan Perez, and Katelyn Polantz]
• Smith is also looking into the potential mishandling of classified documents at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. [Associated Press / Steve Peoples and Eric Tucker]
• The FBI conducted a scheduled search of Pence’s Indiana home after a batch of classified documents was discovered and turned over to officials last month. [New York Times / Maggie Haberman and Glenn Thrush]

Moldova’s prime minister resigns amid crises

• Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita resigned Friday after 18 months in office, citing Russian aggression faced by her pro-Western government. [Guardian / Jon Henley]
• Since Russia’s invasion, the tiny former Soviet country of 2.5 million has faced energy cuts, inflation, and an influx of Ukrainian refugees. [Axios]
• Gavrilita’s resignation came hours after Russia fired a missile over Moldova in a violation of its airspace, during Moscow’s latest missile barrage against Ukraine. [BBC / Abdujalil Abdurasulov and James FitzGerald]
• Former foreign minister Dorin Recean is expected to become the next prime minister and has vowed to continue Moldova’s push to join the European Union. [Reuters / Alexander Tanas]

President Biden is hyping his legislative accomplishments and populist economics, setting up an optimistic campaign for a second term in 2024. [Vox / Christian Paz]

• Embattled New York Rep. George Santos on Thursday said Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) offered him words of encouragement. She says he’s lying. [Washington Post / John Wagner]
• Donald Trump is back on Facebook and Instagram two years after Meta banned his accounts for inciting an insurrection against the US government. [Vox / Shirin Ghaffary]
• Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) remains hospitalized after feeling lightheaded Thursday. So far, doctors have ruled out the possibility he suffered a seizure or another stroke. [AP News]

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“In spite of unprecedented challenges, the country was governed responsibly, with a lot of attention and dedicated work. We have stability, peace and development — where others wanted war and bankruptcy.”

[Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita on her resignation / Deutsche Welle]

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