Stephen Bannon is now set to appear before a special House committee investigating last year’s Capitol riot, after months of refusing to testify that led to criminal contempt charges, according to a new letter from his lawyer.
A letter sent to the investigative body late Saturday suggests otherwise, lawmakers said, as the panel prepares to hold more hearings its members say could provide explosive revelations against former President Donald Trump.
“I expect we will hear [Bannon] and there are a lot of questions we have for him,” Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., said on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday.
Bannon, a former White House strategist and Trump ally, was indicted on two criminal charges of contempt of Congress last year for refusing the committee’s subpoena to talk.
He argued that his testimony was protected by Trump’s claim of executive privilege, although the committee said that claim was dubious because Bannon was a private citizen advising Trump when the January 6, 2021 riot occurred. .
Bannon was fired from a White House role in 2017.
According to a letter to Bannon’s lawyer, Trump said he would drop the privilege claim.
Bannon has rejected previous House subpoenas, saying the former president’s claimed privilege covers him. AP/Evan Vucci
“If you agree to a time and place for your testimony, I will waive executive privilege for you to come in and testify truthfully and honestly as requested by an unelected committee of political thugs and hacks,” Trump wrote.
Congressman Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that he believed Bannon had “changed his mind” after watching other people, such as former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, speak before the committee .
“He decided he wanted to get involved, and if he wants to get involved, I’m sure the committee would be very interested in hearing from him,” Raskin said.
It is not known whether and to what extent Bannon intends to cooperate once he comes forward.
He has said he prefers to appear in a public hearing, although the commission has signaled that he must first speak in a private interview, usually under oath.
“The way we’ve treated every single witness is the same, they come, they talk to the committee there,” Raskin said. “If they’re going to testify, they’re under oath. It was recorded on video. It gets recorded and then we take it from there.”
The committee believes Bannon “had specific knowledge of the events planned for January 6 before they occurred,” citing comments on a podcast the day before the chaos.
“It’s not going to happen the way you think it’s going to happen. Okay, it’s going to be pretty wildly different. All I can say is buckle up,” Bannon said on the podcast. “All hell will break loose tomorrow. … So many people said, “Man, if I was in a revolution, I’d be in Washington.” Well, this is your time in history.
The committee believed that Bannon “had specific knowledge of the events planned for January 6 before they occurred.” AP/J. Scott Applewhite
Bannon’s trial on contempt charges is July 18, with a hearing scheduled for Monday, although the former White House adviser has sought to delay the trial until at least the fall.
Tuesday’s Jan. 6 hearing will examine the plotting and planning of the attack by white nationalist groups, while highlighting Friday’s testimony from former White House adviser Pat Cipollone, Raskin said.
Thursday night’s committee hearing will outline what Trump did for more than three hours as supporters descended on the Capitol.
“We want to show the American people what the president is doing during this time,” Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger said Sunday on ABC’s This Week.
“The rest of the country knew there was an uprising. The president obviously had to know there was a rebellion. So where was he? What was he doing? This is a very important hearing. Pay attention. Because I think that’s at the heart of the leader’s oath.
With pole cables
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