[Grammar] “It was I that/who + past tense” Vs. “It is I who/that + past tense?

Dear English teachers:
What is the difference between “It was I that/who + past tense” Vs. “It is I who/that + past tense?
Examples and their sources:
“I must tell you that it is I who went to the kitchen with my mother when Bernard met Kang,”

LIAISON

And it is I who wentto tell the people that the child had been murdered by his father.'

Tears of the Dead: The Social Biography of an African Family - Page 89

"It was I who did all these things . . .The Anointed, The Elect, and The Damned! - Page 138
It was I that wrote you the letters.

when should use a past tense after " I is I who/that...?
Thanks

High on grammar said:

What is the difference between “It was I that/who + past tense” Vs. “It is I who/that + past tense?

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I may be missing something here, but I can't see any difference between those to, except that you have reversed the order of 'that' and 'who'.

[STRIKE]w[/STRIKE]When should I/we/you/one use a past tense after " I is I who/that...?

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When what 'I' did took place in the past.

5jj said:

I may be missing something here, but I can't see any difference between those two, except that you have reversed the order of 'that' and 'who'.When what 'I' did took place in the past.

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If the action happened in the past , then why the sentence reads: It is (present tense) I that did it >

When do we say it IS I that did it and when " It WAS I that did it"?

Thanks

Sorry - I did indeed miss something.

'It was I ...' places the whole situation in the past.

'It is I ... 'draws attention to the fact that the speaker, who is (?: was) the person who did whatever it was identifies his/her present views/actions with those that happened in the past.

Thanks. But I would really appreciate it if you would explain it in a much simpler way so that I could understand what you mean by " identifies his/her present views/actions with those that happened in the past.

Thanks again