Donald Trump will not be allowed to testify on TV for the U.S. Capitol riots investigation.
Last week, a House committee subpoenaed the former U.S. president to investigate the Jan. 6, 2021, unrest.
So far, anyone giving evidence for the hearing has been broadcast live on C-SPAN, the U.S. public affairs television channel, as well as on the committee’s website.
But on Sunday, Liz Cheney, the committee’s vice chair, said she would not let Mr. Trump’s testimony turn into a televised “food fight.”
Instead, the committee asked him to testify under oath next month and to hand over any records relevant to its investigation.
To avoid complicated and protracted lawsuits, Mr Trump He reportedly told colleagues he might consider complying with a subpoena if he could answer questions while testifying at the scene.
But Ms Cheney told NBC: “We’re going to have an sworn questioning of the former president.
“This could take days and will be done with due rigour, discipline and seriousness.
“He’s not going to turn this into a circus.”
House Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi, however, said she doubted Mr Trump, a Republican, would appear at any type of hearing and angered him by saying he was too cowardly to obey a subpoena .
“I don’t think he’s man enough to show up,” she said in an interview with MSNBC. “I don’t think his lawyer would want him to show up because he has to testify under oath.
The committee has so far argued in hearings that Mr Trump incited his supporters on Jan. 6 Rush into the Capitol Building – The seat of American power in Washington, DC.
read more:
Rush into the Capitol: How four hours of chaos unfolded
He has denied the allegations and described the committee as “completely bankrupt” on his social media platform Truth Social.
The expert group could not Mr Trumpbut it can decide to make a criminal referral to the Justice Department if the member chooses.
Thousands of Trump supporters on the morning of January 6 — inspired by the inflammatory speech he just delivered near the White House — in which he reiterated claims that he had been denied re-election for voter fraud — — March to the Capitol.
It was meeting at the time to oversee congressional certification Joe Bidenpresidential election victory.
So far, Mr. Trump has refused to appear before a committee of seven Democrats and two Republicans.
His former aide Steve Bannon was also summoned to the panel but failed to appear in court and has been arrested since Convicted of contempt of Congress this way.he is jailed for four months.