US House Republicans who have spent the last two years arguing that there was bias in President Barack Obama's Justice Department are preparing to subpoena two key witnesses in the final weeks of their majority - former FBI Director James Comey and former Attorney-General Loretta Lynch.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Goodlatte has notified colleagues that he will subpoena Comey for a closed-door deposition November 29 and Lynch for December 5, according to a person familiar with the subpoenas. The person declined to be identified because the person was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter.
The subpoenas are part of an investigation by two GOP-led committees into decisions made by the department during the 2016 election, when Democrat Hillary Clinton was cleared in a probe into her email use and Justice officials launched an investigation into Trump's campaign and Russia. Both Comey and Lynch were in power during that time.
It's unclear if Comey and Lynch will appear, or if Republicans would be able to enforce the subpoenas, since they lose the House majority in January. Goodlatte and the chairman of the Oversight panel, Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, are both retiring.
Comey's lawyer, David Kelley, said on Friday that Comey hasn't heard from the Judiciary panel since the committee requested an interview earlier this year and Comey told them he would testify in public.
Comey offered his views on Twitter:
"House Republicans can ask me anything they want but I want the American people to watch, so let's have a public hearing," he said.
"Truth is best served by transparency. Let me know when is convenient."
A lawyer for Lynch did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Democrats have strongly objected to the GOP probe, saying it is an effort to undermine special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.
Australian Associated Press
