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."
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.
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents
-
Judge blocks Trump’s Guard deployment in Chicago
Speed Read The president is temporarily blocked from federalizing the Illinois National Guard or deploying any Guard units in the state
-
Trump urges jail for Illinois, Chicago leaders
Speed Read The Texas National Guard begin operations in the Chicago area
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats