Newsweek: Steve Bannon Faces a House Vote on Contempt Charges
The former chief strategist in the White House, Steve Bannon, could face up to 12 months in prison and a fine for contempt of Congress.
Steve Bannon, the former chief strategist in the White House under former US President Donald Trump, will face a House vote on criminal contempt for his refusal to comply with a subpoena in the investigation into the deadly riots at the US Capitol on January 6.
According to the American Newsweek magazine, the constituent committee investigating the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol building met last Tuesday evening to unanimously vote on the adoption of the contempt report.
By adopting the 26-page report, which details the committee's efforts to work with Bannon and his unwillingness to comply with a subpoena, the House committee will move forward with the contempt trial against Trump's ally.
Justin Clark, Trump's legal counsel, instructed Bannon not to provide documents or testimony "related to privileged material", as the former president attempted to withhold some documents from the commission on the grounds of executive privilege.
Trump insists on executive privilege, which gives a president the right to withhold certain information from Congress or the courts.
Representative Liz Cheney, Republican of Wyoming, said the Bannon-Trump franchise's arguments seemed to reveal one thing: they suggested that Trump was personally involved in the planning and execution of January 6, and the committee will delve into that.
The full House of Representatives is expected to vote on the report on Thursday. If this vote moves forward, it will be forwarded to the Department of Justice.
If indicted, Bannon could face up to 12 months in prison and a fine for contempt of Congress.