9 House Republicans vote with Democrats to hold Steve Bannon in contempt for defying Jan. 6 subpoena
Just nine House Republicans joined their Democratic colleagues in voting to hold former Trump adviser Steve Bannon in criminal contempt of Congress after he refused to comply with subpoenas from the Jan. 6 select committtee seeking testimony and documents related to the Capitol riot, NBC News reports.
Select committee members Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) were among the nine GOPers to approve the measure. Thursday's final vote was 229-202, with all Democrats moving in tandem.
The issue now moves to the Department of Justice, which will decide whether or not to bring criminal charges against Bannon. It's "a significant escalation in the Jan. 6 committee's efforts to enforce subpoenas against Trump allies who refuse to cooperate," writes Axios.
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.
"Steve Bannon has led us down this path by refusing to cooperate in any way with our investigation," Jan. 6 Committee Chair Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said on the House floor ahead of the vote.
Contempt of Congress could result in a fine and a jail term of up to 12 months, notes The Wall Street Journal.
Earlier Thursday, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Department of Justice "will do what it always does," should there be a successful referral. "We'll apply the facts and the law and make a decision consistent with the principles of prosecution."
-
Political cartoons for February 15Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include political ventriloquism, Europe in the middle, and more
-
The broken water companies failing England and WalesExplainer With rising bills, deteriorating river health and a lack of investment, regulators face an uphill battle to stabilise the industry
-
A thrilling foodie city in northern JapanThe Week Recommends The food scene here is ‘unspoilt’ and ‘fun’
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
-
Trump’s EPA kills legal basis for federal climate policySpeed Read The government’s authority to regulate several planet-warming pollutants has been repealed
-
House votes to end Trump’s Canada tariffsSpeed Read Six Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the president’s tariffs
-
Bondi, Democrats clash over Epstein in hearingSpeed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi ignored survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and demanded that Democrats apologize to Trump
-
El Paso airspace closure tied to FAA-Pentagon standoffSpeed Read The closure in the Texas border city stemmed from disagreements between the Federal Aviation Administration and Pentagon officials over drone-related tests
-
Judge blocks Trump suit for Michigan voter rollsSpeed Read A Trump-appointed federal judge rejected the administration’s demand for voters’ personal data
-
US to send 200 troops to Nigeria to train armySpeed Read Trump has accused the West African government of failing to protect Christians from terrorist attacks
-
Grand jury rejects charging 6 Democrats for ‘orders’ videoSpeed Read The jury refused to indict Democratic lawmakers for a video in which they urged military members to resist illegal orders
