A US Congressional committee has decided to subpoena former President Donald Trump in connection with last year's attack on the Capitol by his supporters.

The House of Representatives panel investigating the deadly riot on January 6, 2021 voted unanimously on Thursday to subpoena Trump to testify under oath.

The committee's chairman, Bennie Thompson, said, "He is the one person at the center of the story of what happened on January 6, so we want to hear from him." Thompson stressed, "He must be held accountable."

Trump criticized the move and stated on social media that the committee has only further divided the country.

If Trump does not comply with the congressional subpoena, he could be held in contempt of Congress.

Congress will vote on whether to refer Trump to the Justice Department, which has the authority to decide whether to bring criminal charges.

Trump's former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, defied a subpoena from the January 6 committee, and has been found guilty of contempt of Congress.