Ryan issues warning to EX-FBI lawyer defying subpoena

House Speaker Paul Ryan is warning former FBI lawyer Lisa Page that she must appear for a closed-door interview with two House committees investigating the Justice Department or the House could take action against her.

Page’s attorney said late Tuesday that she would not appear for a private interview Wednesday with the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform committees, despite a subpoena. In response, House Judiciary Chairman Robert Goodlatte said Page has known for months about an interview, and the committee will use “all tools at our disposal” to obtain it.

If a witness does not respond to a subpoena, the full House can vote to hold that person in contempt of Congress. Ryan said Wednesday the House will “do what we need to do to protect this branch of government” and that he stands behind Goodlatte.

“A subpoena to testify before Congress is not optional, it’s mandatory,” Ryan said.

The committees are interested in Page as part of their investigation into what they say is bias at the Justice Department. Page exchanged text messages critical of Donald Trump with FBI agent Peter Strzok before and after the 2016 presidential election.