Trump-backed Doug Mastriano sues Jan 6 committee over deposition

State senator was outside US Capitol on January 6 but has denied any wrongdoing

Doug Mastriano, the Trump-backed Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor, has sued the January 6 committee claiming it cannot compel witnesses to sit for depositions.

Mr Mastriano filed his lawsuit in federal court in Washington and named the committee, its members, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as defendants, according to Politico.

In court papers, the state senator asked a judge to declare that the committee cannot order him to sit for the deposition and asks for it to pay his legal fees.

Mr Mastriano was subpoenaed by the committee for documents and testimony in February and produced evidence in May. He also told the committee that he would voluntarily sit for the interview.

But when the committee insisted that the deposition be videotaped, Mr Mastriano asked that he be allowed to make his own recording of it, which court papers say was rejected.

The committee has used a string of clips from the depositions during its live televised hearings.

Mr Mastriano appeared on a video conference call with the committee earlier this month but left before answering any questions, according to the lawsuit.

Lawyers for Mr Mastriano claim in the lawsuit that the committee must have a ranking member from the opposition party in order to conduct depositions.

And they state that as none of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s selected members are on the committee, it cannot force witnesses to give depositions.

His lawyers also claim that there is concern that any video of the deposition will be edited deceptively, says Politico.

Mr Mastriano was a vocal supporter of Mr Trump’s election-fraud lies following Joe Biden’s victory over the one-term president.

He has said he was outside the US Capitol during the violent riot but has denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Mastriano, who was once photographed wearing a Confederate uniform for a faculty photo at the US Army War College, is trailing Democrat Josh Shapiro in the race for governor.