Donald Trump challenges his subpoena to testify in court

Timing is tight for Donald Trump. Pile between a midterms result not up to expectations and the formalization of his candidacy for the presidency of 2024, the former president is supposed to testify in the case of the assault on the Capitol. The Jan. 6 commission ordered him to appear for an in-person deposition by Monday, which includes providing a long list of documents and communications.

Refusing to appear, the former president filed a lawsuit challenging his subpoena. To support his approach, Donald Trump claims to benefit from “absolute immunity” and that he will not testify next week. His lawyers described the subpoena as “invalid, illegal and unenforceable”. They believe that the former head of state still enjoys executive privilege nearly 22 months after leaving office and cannot be compelled to appear by Congress.

Delay the deadline hoping to be able to dissolve the commission of inquiry

Prosecutors have charged more than 900 people with crimes related to the Capitol storming, and the Justice Department said last month that 412 of them had pleaded guilty to one of various federal charges. At least seven people lost their lives in the January 6 assault. During his trial in federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida, Donald Trump argued that US presidents, past and present, voluntarily agreed to testify or hand over documents after receiving a subpoena from Congress. , but none “has ever been forced to do so”.

The vote count to distribute the last seats of the House of Representatives is particularly important for the future. The Republicans hold 200 of the 218 seats needed to recover the majority, ahead of the Democrats. If Republicans take control of the House, they are likely to disband the Jan. 6 commission, which has amassed evidence it says Trump instigated his supporters to lead the assault in an attempt to strip Joe Biden of his seat. victory in the presidential election.