WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump is suing the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to block a subpoena requiring him to testify.
“Long-standing precedent and practice hold that the separation of powers prohibits Congress from compelling the president to testify before it,” Trump’s lawyer, David A. Warrington, said in a statement announcing Trump’s intentions.
He said Trump had “engaged in good faith with the Committee to address these issues consistent with executive prerogatives and the separation of powers,” but said the group “insisted on following the policy path, leaving President Trump no choice but to involve the third branch, the judiciary, in this dispute between the executive and the legislature.’
The committee voted to challenge Trump during the last hearing before the midterm elections and formally did so last month by requiring the former president to testify. Committee members allege that Trump “personally orchestrated” a multi-pronged effort to overturn the 2020 election results.
They said Trump was scheduled to testify either at the Capitol or via video conference “beginning on or about” Nov. 14 and continuing for several days if necessary.
The letter also described a broad request for documents, including personal communications between Trump and members of Congress, as well as extremist groups.
The lawsuit comes as Trump is expected to launch a third presidential campaign next week.
