Donald Trump sues Jan 6 committee to avoid testifying about US Capitol riot

Donald Trump has sued the January 6 committee in an effort to avoid testifying about US Capitol riot and his alleged role in it.

Last month, the House committee that is examining the events of the day when hundreds of supporters of the-then president stormed the Capitol, isssued a subpoena to Mr Trump, calling on him to testify in person about his actions, both that day and in the days and weeks leading up to it.

“Because of your central role in each element the select committee unanimously directed the issuance of a subpoena seeking your testimony and relevant documents in your possession on these and related topics,” wrote the panel’s chairman, Bennie Thompson, and vice-chair, Liz Cheney.

The panel had originally wanted Mr Trump to provide relevant documents by 4 November and appear for a deposition by 14 November.

It then agreed to extend its deadline, after a request from Mr Trump’s lawyers.

Now Mr Trump has sought to in turn block that subpoena. In a lawsuit filed in federal court on Friday in West Palm Beach, Florida, close to his Mar-a-Lago home, he claimed the committee’s demands breached executive privilege.

He claimed he still retained such privilege guaranteed by the constitution despite having left the White House 21 months ago.

“While other Presidents and former presidents have voluntarily agreed to testify or turn over documents in response to a congressional subpoena, no President or former President has ever been compelled to do so,” says Mr Trump’s lawsuit.

“To the contrary, for a half-century the Department of Justice has consistently opined that Presidents and former Presidents have absolute immunity from compelled Congressional testimony.”

The committee was established by Nancy Pelosi in the aftermath of the attacks that led several people dead, many wounded and were seen as the most shocking visual evidence of Mr Trump’s efforts to hold on to power and prevent Joe Biden necessary. He was impeached for a second time - unique in US history - for his alleged role in inciting the crowds.

The committe has held a number of sessions in private, but many have been in public, and revealed often jolting efforts about Mr Trump’s efforts to cling to power, the claim falsely that the election had been rigged, and to use a small circle of right wing and frindge figures, such as Steve Bannon, Rudy Giuliani, and law professor John Eastman, to claim the constituion gave vice president Mike Pence to reject the set of “electors” if it could be proven there was malfeasance at work.

A succession of courts rejected Mr Trump’s claims that the election was rigged and Mr Pence - to the the president’s rage - refused not to go ahead and certify the votes for Mr Biden.

Mr Trump, who has suggested he will next week officially making a another presidential bid, is counting on Republicans taking control of the House in the midterms - something that has not happened yet - and scrap the committee investigaing him and his top officials.