Former president Donald Trump — who is now officially facing questions over his role in the January 6 insurrection — isn't saying whether or not he will willingly testify before the House select committee.
The bipartisan committee unanimously voted on Thursday to subpoena Mr Trump at its ninth public hearing, an unprecedented move that may be largely symbolic.
Mr Trump sent a 14-page letter to the panel's chairman, Representative Bennie Thompson, that featured several falsehoods about the 2020 presidential election, when he lost to Joe Biden.
"The Unselect Committee has perpetuated a Show Trial the likes of which this Country has never seen before," he wrote. "It is a Witch Hunt of the highest level, a continuation of what has been going on for years."
The former president's communications did not disclose whether he would agree to testifying in front of the House committee.
However, the New York Times, Guardian and Fox News reported on Friday that Mr Trump is privately considering speaking with the legislators, citing anonymous individuals close to him.
Mr Trump's letter to Mr Thompson can be interpreted as a pre-emptive strike, and not a required response, since the January 6 panel had not sent a formal subpoena as of Friday afternoon.
Mr Trump could still defy the subpoena, and doing so could yield charges of contempt.
Mr Trump's former presidential advisor Steve Bannon is set to face sentencing for contempt after he defied the panel's subpoena.
Should the former president to ignore a summons to appear, charging Mr Trump requires the approval of the House of Representatives for a criminal referral to the Justice Department, which may not take up the referral. The department has yet to charge Mr Trump's former chief of staff Mark Meadows, for example.
Memorable quotes from January 6 committee hearings – in pictures
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'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](https://www.thenationalnews.com/resizer/v2/RLINK2AWKRFONAWRZ7TNQF6VI4.jpg?smart=true&auth=898bee20e87c352f4801c4275eab58720719d25c3b0343a94bb0b4d88c1d38f4&width=400&height=225)
'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
!['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](https://www.thenationalnews.com/resizer/v2/RLINK2AWKRFONAWRZ7TNQF6VI4.jpg?smart=true&auth=898bee20e87c352f4801c4275eab58720719d25c3b0343a94bb0b4d88c1d38f4&width=800&height=450)
