Schilling issued subpoena to appear before committee

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A subpoena was approved Monday compelling former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling to appear before a committee probing Rhode Island's $75 million deal with his failed video game company. But the subpoena is not enforceable outside the state and Schilling lives in neighboring Massachusetts, so it's unclear whether he will ever be served with it.

Rhode Island House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello signed the subpoena after the House Oversight Committee asked him to issue it.

''We will use the legal tools at our disposal to serve the subpoena, realizing that all processes have their limitations,'' Mattiello said in a statement. ''Mr. Schilling should voluntarily testify because he can provide valuable information that the citizens of Rhode Island deserve.''

Schilling has never publicly answered questions about how the 38 Studios deal went wrong. 38 Studios relocated to Rhode Island from Massachusetts in 2010 in exchange for a $75 million state loan guarantee. The company ran out of money less than two years later, leaving taxpayers on the hook.

Schilling is one of several people being sued over the deal.

The committee previously invited Schilling to come voluntarily, but he declined. His lawyers cited the lawsuit.

The subpoena compels Schilling to appear before the committee on Dec. 15. Attempts to reach Schilling for comment through his lawyers Monday were unsuccessful.

It's next expected to be given to the sheriff. Mattiello spokesman Larry Berman says whenever it's known that Schilling is in Rhode Island, officials will serve it.

Schilling was suspended for a month in September as a baseball analyst for ESPN following an anti-Muslim tweet he made. He was back at work for the sports network as part of its baseball postseason coverage team.