The Jan. 6 committee will move to hold Steve Bannon in criminal contempt for defying its subpoena. Then what?
The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot announced Thursday it will move to hold former Trump adviser Stephen Bannon in criminal contempt for defying its subpoena, The Washington Post reports.
"The Select Committee will use every tool at its disposal to get the information it seeks, and witnesses who try to stonewall the Select Committee will not succeed," said Chair Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.) in a statement. Bannon did not show up for a deposition before the committee on Thursday, writes Axios, making this "the first major test" of how the committee will handle uncooperative witnesses.
Thompson said he notified the rest of the panel that "we will convene for a business meeting Tuesday evening to vote on adopting a contempt report."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
So what happens now?
Well, first, the committee must vote Tuesday to approve the contempt charge. After that, the measure goes to the House for a separate vote. If passed, the "the contempt referral would then be sent to the Justice Department," where it would be up to Attorney General Merrick Garland to decide whether to criminally prosecute Bannon for defying the congressional subpoena, explains the Post.
On that front, NBC News' justice correspondent Pete Williams expects the Department of Justice to act "pretty promptly" should they receive the referral from the House. "I would think Congress will act very quickly and then the U.S. attorney will act within, I would think, a matter of days," Williams said on MSNBC.
If the contempt prosecution is successful, Bannon could face incarceration, a fine, or both, writes the Post; however, it is worth noting that "a conviction on this misdemeanor offense may not necessarily result in the committee receiving the information it wants."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
AI is causing concern among the LGBTQ community
In the Spotlight One critic believes that AI will 'always fail LGBTQ people'
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Modern presidents exercise power undreamed of by the Founding Fathers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 15, 2024
Cartoons Monday's cartoons - flamingos in flight, taxes, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How will Israel respond to Iran's direct attack?
Speed Read Iran’s weekend attack on Israel could escalate into a wider Middle East war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US, Israel brace for Iran retaliatory strikes
Speed Read An Iranian attack on Israel is believed to be imminent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Congress honors real-life Rosie the Riveters
Speed Read These American women reshaped the work force during World War II
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Outgunned Ukraine could fall, US general warns
Speed Read Without more US aid, Ukraine is at risk of losing the war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
House GOP scuttles FISA vote at Trump's urging
Speed Read Right-wing lawmakers blocked Speaker Mike Johnson's surveillance bill
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Is it time to end arms sales to Israel?
Today's Big Question Democrats urge restrictions following World Kitchen convoy deaths
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published