US Capitol attack probe panel moves to hold Steve Bannon in contempt
- The Trump ally has refused – at the ex-president’s request – to cooperate with a subpoena issued by the committee investigating the January 6 insurrection
- Contempt of Congress is a crime that may result in a fine and up to 12 months’ imprisonment
A House committee investigating the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol is set to vote on Tuesday to hold a top adviser to former president Donald Trump in contempt of Congress for not cooperating in the probe.
Steve Bannon, who served as the former president’s chief political strategist and helped run his 2016 campaign, has refused at Trump’s request to cooperate with the committee’s subpoena.
Mississippi Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson, the chairman of the committee, blasted Bannon for “hiding behind the former president’s insufficient, blanket, and vague statements regarding privileges he has purported to invoke”.
The panel, which includes seven Democrats and two Republicans, will vote to hold Bannon in contempt on Tuesday night. Bannon was scheduled for a deposition Thursday but did not show.
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“The Select Committee will not tolerate defiance of our subpoenas, so we must move forward with proceedings to refer Mr Bannon for criminal contempt,” Thompson said.