AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson
- Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump have been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury.
- The special counsel overseeing the investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election issued the subpoenas.
- Mike Pence, the former vice president, was recently subpoenaed as part of the probe.
The special counsel overseeing the investigation into former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot has subpoenaed Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka Trump to testify before a grand jury, The New York Times reported Wednesday.
The subpoenas, issued by special counsel Jack Smith, come as part of the far-reaching criminal probe into Trump's attempt to stay in power after President Joe Biden defeated him in the 2020 election, The Times reported.
Smith was appointed in November by Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee the investigation into illegal interference with the peaceful transfer of power following the 2020 election, as well as the investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents after he left office.
In the 2020 election probe, Smith recently subpoenaed former Vice President Mike Pence to testify before the grand jury. Pence has said he intends to resist the subpoena.
Kushner and Ivanka served as Trump's White House senior advisors during his term. Both had reportedly sought to get Trump to urge the rioters to leave the Capitol on January 6. Ivanka was the White House as the riot erupted; Kushner came to the White House later in the afternoon, flying back from a trip to the Middle East.
The two were high-profile witnesses who testified before the now-dissolved House select committee investigating the January 6 attack. During her testimony, Ivanka questioned Trump's false claims about the 2020 election, which the former president lashed out at. Ivanka also acknowledged then-Attorney General Bill Barr's assessment that there was no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.
Since leaving the White House, the couple has reportedly distanced themselves from Trump as he continues to insist the 2020 election was stolen and pursues his 2024 presidential campaign bid.