January 6 House committee votes to hold Steve Bannon in contempt

Washington DC – The US House committee probing the January 6 Capitol attack voted to hold Steve Bannon in contempt on Tuesday evening.

Steve Bannon, former chief strategist for Donald Trump, is suspected of having advance knowledge of the January 6 riot.
Steve Bannon, former chief strategist for Donald Trump, is suspected of having advance knowledge of the January 6 riot.  © IMAGO / UPI Photo

The committee unanimously adopted a resolution that holds Bannon in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena to appear before the committee last Thursday.

The resolution will go next to the Democratic-majority House of Representatives, which will vote on it before the case goes to court.

Bannon was Donald Trump's chief strategist in the first months of his presidency.

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He invoked what is known as executive privilege – the president's prerogative to withhold certain information from Congress or the courts.

The adopted resolution states that even if Trump could invoke such a privilege, it would not relieve Bannon of his duty to testify before the committee.

Bannon's refusal has no legal basis and violates legal requirements, according to the resolution.

The committee is tasked with investigating the circumstances of the January 6 Capitol attack carried out by Trump supporters.

Bannon is suspected of having had advance knowledge of plans for violent protests.

He said "all hell is going to break loose tomorrow" on his podcast a day before the storming of the Capitol.

Cover photo: IMAGO / UPI Photo

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