Jan. 6 panel extends Trump deadline

WASHINGTON — The House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol has extended the deadline for former President Donald Trump to turn over documents as part of a subpoena issued last month, while reiterating its request for a sit-down interview.

The panel of seven Democrats and two Republicans issued a statement late Friday saying it is in communication with Trump’s attorneys. Friday had been the committee’s deadline for Trump to produce an extensive number of documents and communications with lawmakers.

“We have informed the former President’s counsel that he must begin producing records no later than next week [this week] and he remains under subpoena for deposition testimony starting on November 14th,” Chairman Bennie Thompson and Vice Chair Liz Cheney wrote.

With other subpoenas, the committee’s deadlines for document or deposition requests have generally been subject to negotiation, but only when there is a direct line of communication with the witness and their attorney.

The committee’s decision to subpoena Trump was an escalation of the investigation, a step lawmakers said was necessary because the former president was the “central player” in the effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The subpoena set the stage for a potential legal battle with Trump at a time when he is considering launching another run for the White House.

“I think that he has a legal obligation to testify but that doesn’t always carry weight with Donald Trump,” Rep. Cheney, R-Wyo., said last week.

(AP/Paul Beaty) Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., waves to supporters during a rally Saturday in Joliet, Ill., ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections.