Trump ally ends Capitol probe co-operation

Mark Meadows, who served as former president Donald Trump's White House chief of staff, has decided not to co-operate with the congressional committee investigating the deadly January 6 US Capitol riot.

The panel said on Tuesday it is prepared to pursue contempt charges against him.

Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House of Representatives Select Committee, said in a statement the panel would take action if Meadows fails to show up for a deposition scheduled for Wednesday.

"If indeed Mr Meadows refuses to appear, the Select Committee will be left no choice but to advance contempt proceedings and recommend that the body in which Mr Meadows once served refer him for criminal prosecution," Thompson said in a statement.

The Democrat-led committee last week said Meadows had provided records and agreed to appear "soon" for a deposition after failing to show up when previously scheduled.

Thompson said his committee has questions for Meadows about records he has provided including "real-time communications" that occurred as the Capitol riot took place.

The panel also wants to hear from Meadows about "voluminous official records" in his personal telephone and email accounts, Thompson said.

Meadows served as a Republican House member until he joined Trump's administration last year.

If he disregards the committee's subpoena, the panel could pursue contempt of Congress charges, as it has against Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon and former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark.

On January 6, Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in a bid to prevent formal congressional certification of his 2020 presidential election loss to Joe Biden.

Before the riot, Trump gave a speech to his supporters repeating his false claims the election was stolen through widespread voting fraud, and urging them to go to the Capitol and "fight like hell" to "stop the steal".

Trump has urged associates not to co-operate with the committee, calling the investigation politically motivated and arguing his communications are protected by executive privilege, although many legal experts have said that legal principle does not apply to former presidents.

Thompson noted that even as the committee and Trump's attorneys battle in court over executive privilege issues, Meadows revealed details about circumstances surrounding the January 6 attack including conversations with Trump in a new book Meadows is currently promoting.