In an exclusive interview with the Washington Examiner, former Vice President Mike Pence explained his decision not to appeal a judge's ruling requiring him to testify before the grand jury investigating the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol.

"When I received the subpoena to testify before the grand jury, I described it as unprecedented and unconstitutional, and I believe it was," said Pence, who is currently weighing the decision of whether to run for the Republican presidential nomination. While Pence is ultimately complying with the judge's order despite previously challenging the subpoena, he scored a crucial concession from the judge that changed his decision.

"We opposed the subpoena in court on the belief that the Constitution’s speech or debate protections applied to me during my role as president of the Senate during the proceedings and preparing for the proceedings going into Jan. 6," Pence said. "And I will tell you, I'm pleased the court, for the first time in history, recognized that speech or debate protections apply to the vice president in their role as president of the Senate. That was a landmark ruling. I thought it was an important constitutional principle, going to the very heart of separation of powers for us to defend, but having prevailed in defending that principle in the court, we have decided not to appeal the matter and will comply with a subpoena as required by law."

The Constitution's speech or debate clause prevents lawmakers from civil suits related to their duties, which clearly covers a vice president's legislative duty to preside over Congress's electoral vote count.

"As I've said before, I have nothing to hide," Pence said. "About Jan. 6 or the days leading up to it, I believe I did my constitutional duty that day. I've written and spoken extensively about that day. And as I said, we'll be making arrangements to appear before the grand jury. And I look forward to putting the matter behind us."