Defiant Steve Bannon Turns Himself In On Charges Of Contempt Of Congress In Jan. 6 Probe

Nov 15, 2021

Former President Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon handed himself over to the FBI on Monday as he faces criminal charges that were handed down by the congressional panel investigating the events that transpired on January 6 at the Capitol building after he refused to cooperate with the probe.

Bannon, who looked squarely in the camera that was broadcasting live on social media platform GETTR urged folks watching to stay focused.

“We’re taking down the Biden regime,” Bannon went on to say, dressed in several black shirts and a green coat. “I want you guys to stay focused. … This is all noise.”

via Newsmax:

A federal grand jury on Friday indicted Bannon on one count of contempt of Congress for refusing to appear for a deposition and a second count for refusing to produce documents. Contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000, the Justice Department said.

Bannon, 67, is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court later on Monday.

Bannon is one of more than 30 people close to the Republican former president who have been ordered by the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee to testify about what happened in the run-up to Jan. 6, when thousands of people stormed the Capitol building in an attempt to prevent formal congressional certification of Trump’s election loss to President Joe Biden.

House investigators hope the action against Bannon will motivate other witnesses, such as former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, to testify. Bannon has refused, citing Trump’s insistence — already rejected by one judge – that he has a right to keep the requested material confidential under a legal doctrine called executive privilege.

Rep. Adam “Shifty” Schiff, the Democrat chair of the House Intelligence Committee and member of the Jan. 6 panel, stated that he believes Bannon being indicted will help provide a little extra motivation for others who are being defiant of the panel in this investigation to do what they are being told to do.

“It will have a very strong focusing effect on their decision-making,” Schiff said during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday.