Capitol riot inquiry orders Trump to testify

The US congressional committee investigating last year's Capitol riot has issued a legal summons for former President Donald Trump to testify.

"He is required to answer for his actions," said Representative Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat.

If Mr Trump does not comply with the subpoena, he could face criminal charges and ultimately imprisonment.

The select committee is looking into Trump supporters' storming of Congress on 6 January 2021.

The panel's seven Democrats and two Republicans voted 9-0 in favour on Thursday of issuing the subpoena for the former Republican president to provide documents and testimony under oath in connection with the Capitol riot.

Representative Liz Cheney, the committee's vice-chairwoman and a Wyoming Republican, said: "We are obligated to seek answers directly from the man who set this all in motion. And every American is entitled to those answers."

The move came during the investigation's 10th and possibly final public hearing for the investigation into last year's raid on Congress.

At Thursday's session the committee said it would focus on Mr Trump's "state of mind" as he refused to admit defeat to Joe Biden in the presidential election of November 2020.

The committee has accused Mr Trump of an attempted coup, and its lawmakers could make a referral to the US Department of Justice for potential criminal charges.