In the early days of the January 6th select committee, many on the GOP side of things began to suggest that there was a sort of entrapment scheme occurring within the organization itself.
That’s because, in these first machinations, the issue of executive privilege had not yet been adjudicated, (and some still don’t believe that it has), meaning that subpoenaed witnesses would have been running quite a risk by complying, if they had any knowledge of the inner workings of the White House. But, by refusing to testify, they could be charged with contempt.
Steve Bannon was just such a witness, and we have now learned his fate.
Former Trump White House aide Steve Bannon was found guilty Friday of two counts of contempt of Congress after a trial in federal court in Washington, D.C.
Jurors deliberated for less than three hours before convicting Bannon of willfully failing to comply with subpoenas demanding his testimony and records, which were issued last September by the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.
Bannon could be headed to jail.
He faces a minimum punishment of 30 days in jail, and a maximum of one year when he is sentenced on Oct. 21. He also faces a fine in the range of $100 to a maximum of $100,000.
“The subpoena to Stephen Bannon was not an invitation that could be rejected or ignored,” said Matthew Graves, the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia.
“Mr. Bannon had an obligation to appear before the House Select Committee to give testimony and provide documents. His refusal to do so was deliberate and now a jury has found that he must pay the consequences.”
The result may or may not affect the decisions of other subpoenaed persons, and will almost certainly be used in Democratic candidates’ advertisements heading into the 2022 midterms.
