Irish Examiner view: Donald Trump subpoena may lead to a January 6 judgement day 

Ex-president is unlikely to make the same mistake as Steve Bannon — but Trump may end up in the US Supreme Court

Donald Trump will be compelled to provide an account under oath about any advance knowledge he had of the US Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021. File Picture: Mary Altaffer/AP

The wheels of justice may turn slowly, but there is increasing evidence that former US president Donald Trump is being drawn into their orbit, with the issuing of a House select committee subpoena compelling him to provide an account under oath about any advance knowledge of the Capitol attack.

Trump’s former strategist, Steve Bannon, was sentenced to four months jail on Friday for contempt of Congress after refusing to co-operate with his own subpoena and it is unlikely that Trump would make a similar mistake. 

But the scene is set for a legal battle of the highest constitutional consequence that may eventually move into the US Supreme Court. 

The committee wants a record of all January 6-related calls and texts sent and received with the far-right Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, the two leading groups involved in the Washington protests. They should make interesting reading, one way or the other.