The panel drew a direct connection between the events of Jan. 6 and the months-long effort by Trump and Giuliani to browbeat state legislative leaders. But no state legislature responded to Trump’s demand, and Pence, without any genuine controversy, rejected the scheme as illegal. Trump attorneys Cleta Mitchell and Eastman discussed the absence of such evidence in emails on Jan. 2 and Jan. 3. Members of Trump’s inner circle began contemplating the notion of turning to state legislatures even before the election was called for Biden. Jacob, Pence’s chief counsel, told the vice president at the time that had any state legislatures certified an alternative slate the outcome might’ve been different.
