House January 6 committee advances contempt of Congress charge against former Trump DOJ official

The select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol unanimously voted Wednesday to recommend former Trump administration official Jeffrey Clark be held in contempt of Congress for defying his subpoena.

But the vote by the nine-member panel came after Chairman Bennie Thompson revealed the panel reached an agreement with Clark's attorney to allow Clark to appear at a previously unscheduled deposition on Saturday. Clark is expected to assert his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, Thompson said.

"We will not finalize this contempt process if Mr. Clark genuinely cures his failure to comply with the subpoena this Saturday," vice chair Liz Cheney said Tuesday evening. "It is important to note, however, that Mr. Clark is not excused from testifying simply because President Trump is trying to hide behind inapplicable claims of executive privilege."