A contrite Jon Corzine will express both sorrow and a firm defence of his actions on Thursday in his first public appearance since the collapse of MF Global in late October.

"Recognising the enormous impact on many peoples' lives resulting from the events surrounding the MF Global bankruptcy, I appear at today's hearings with great sadness," Corzine plans to say in testimony prepared for a hearing by the House Agriculture Committee, which subpoenaed the former MF Global chief executive on Friday. A copy of the testimony was released early on Thursday on the panel's website.