Jan. 6 panel issues formal subpoena to Donald Trump

Washington, Oct 22: Former US President Donald Trump was officially issued a subpoena on Friday by the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot.

The nine-member committee is demanding Trump's testimony under oath by November 14. The panel voted unanimously last week to issue a subpoena to Trump, with members having worked the last few days to prepare the demand.

Subpoena is 'historic action'

"We recognize that a subpoena to a former President Trump is significant and historic action," Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson and Republican Vice Chairwoman Liz Cheney wrote in a letter to Trump's lawyers.

"We do not take this action lightly," they added.

The panel have outlined a request for a series of corresponding documents, including personal communications between the former president and members of Congress.

Seven Democrats and two Republicans, all of whom have been selected by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, make up the committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot by Trump supporters.

Trump 'personally orchestrated' effort to overthrow 2020 election

The committee in its letter to Trump's legal team said it has assembled "overwhelming evidence" that Trump "personally orchestrated" an effort to overturn the 2020 election.

It said Trump tried doing so in number of ways, including by spreading false allegations of voter fraud, by "attempting to corrupt" the Justice Department and by pressuring state officials, members of Congress and his own vice president to try to change the results.

Exact details about what Trump was doing and saying during the siege, when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol as Congress met to confirm the election of President Biden, remain unknown.

The committee said the only person who can help them fill those gaps is Trump himself.

It is not clear whether Trump will comply with the subpoena.

Bannon sentenced, classified intelligence on China reportedly at Trump's home

Relatedly, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon was also sentenced to four months in prison earlier Friday for failing to comply with his own subpoeneas from the committee.

In addition, The Washington Post reported Friday that highly sensitive documents on Iran and China were among documents recovered from Trump's home in Florida.

The US Justice Department is investigating whether Trump broke the law by taking government records, including about 100 classified documents, to his Florida estate after leaving office in January 2021.

Source: DW