Newt Gingrich: January 6 panel wants to interview former US House speaker

Mr Gingrich communicated with Trump advisers before 2021 attack on Capitol, committee says

The US House committee investigating the January 6 investigation asked Newt Gingrich to voluntarily provide evidence as the panel continues its probe. AFP

The committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol has asked former House speaker Newt Gingrich to provide evidence about his communications with senior advisers to then-president Donald Trump in the days before the insurrection.

Bennie Thompson, the committee's chairman, wrote a letter to the influential Republican, saying that the panel has obtained emails Mr Gingrich exchanged with Trump associates about advertisements that “repeated and relied upon false claims about fraud in the 2020 election”.

“Information obtained by the select committee suggests that you provided detailed directives about the television advertisements that perpetuated false claims about fraud in the 2020 election, that you sought ways to expand the reach of this messaging, and that you were likely in direct conversations with President Trump about these efforts,” Mr Thompson wrote.

The letter said the committee had information that Mr Gingrich was part of a plan to replace state electors with hand-selected candidates that would act to ensure Mr Trump remained in office despite losing the election to Joe Biden.

The committee asked Mr Gingrich to appear and answer questions during the week of September 19.

Mr Gingrich, a major voice in Republican circles, served as House speaker from 1995-1999. He launched an unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2012.

'There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonour will remain.' Congresswoman and January 6 committee vice chairwoman Liz Cheney to Republican colleagues who have defended Mr Trump's claims of election fraud. AFP

'January 6 was the culmination of an attempted coup - a brazen attempt, as one rioter put it shortly after January 6 - to overthrow the government.' Committee chairman Bennie Thompson. EPA

Mr Trump 'was willing to sacrifice our republic to prolong his presidency. I can imagine no more dishonourable acts by a president.' Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger. AFP

Donald Trump had this 'arsenal of allegations. I went through them piece by piece to say, no, they were not true'. Former acting deputy attorney general Richard Donoghue. EPA

'There were no votes to find.' Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger after Donald Trump asked him and his deputy, Gabriel Sterling, to 'find 11,780' votes that could flip Georgia in the president's favour. AFP

Competing against Donald Trump’s lies was like a 'shovel trying to empty the ocean'. Gabriel Sterling, Georgia Secretary of State chief operating officer. AFP

'As an American, I was disgusted. It was unpatriotic, it was un-American. We were watching the Capitol building get defaced over a lie.' Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to then White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, speaking about the insurrection. AFP

'I told him [Donald Trump] that the stuff his people were shovelling out to the public was bull***t.' Former attorney general William Barr. AP

'I respect attorney general Barr. So, I accepted what he was saying.' Ivanka Trump, former White House senior adviser. AP

'We fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country any more.' Donald Trump on January 6, 2021. Reuters

A Confederate battle flag that reads 'Come and Take It' and shows a military-style rifle flies as rioters storm the Capitol on January 6, 2001. Reuters

A Trump supporter sprays smoke. Reuters

Police attempt to push the mob back. AFP

The pro-Trump mob swarms the Capitol as police release tear gas. Reuters

Protesters clash with police. Reuters

Pro-Trump protesters storm into the US Capitol. Reuters

A police flash-bang blast lights up the Capitol. Reuters

Before the insurrection, Mr Trump is seen on a screen speaking to supporters during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results. Reuters

People march with those who say they are members of the Proud Boys as they attend a rally in Washington in support of former president Donald Trump. AP

Since leaving office last year, Mr Trump has refused to admit that he lost the election, instead repeating his debunked claims of fraud.

Thousands of his supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to halt Congress's certification of Mr Biden's victory. More than 900 people have been charged in connection with the attack, data compiled by Insider show.

Mr Trump on Thursday said he would “very, very seriously” consider pardoning and issuing an apology to those convicted for their January 6 crimes if he is elected again in 2024.

Agencies contributed to this report