As Federal prosecutors accused former Trump adviser Steve Bannon on Tuesday of willfully ignoring a congressional subpoena, Bannon’s Attorney’s argued that the charges against him are politically motivated and that Bannon was engaged in good-faith negotiations with the congressional committee when he was charged.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols had previously ruled that major elements of Bannon’s planned defense were irrelevant and could not be introduced in court.
He ruled last week that Bannon could not claim he believed he was covered by executive privilege or that he was acting on the advice of his lawyers.
Bannon, however, made sure to express his thoughts on the charges and Joe Biden’s presidency as he walked out of the courtroom,
“Look, it’s very simple. (Rep.) Bennie Thompson sent a staffer over here. Where is Bennie Thompson? We subpoenaed Thompson and they’re hiding behind these phony privileges.
Bennie Thompson and the entire committee. We subpoenaed them and they dodged it. They had a staffer up here today, sent a staffer over. He’s too gutless to come over here himself. He’s made it a crime, made it a crime, not a civil charge of wanting my testimony, but a crime. And he didn’t have the courage or guts to show up here and he sent a staffer.
She also testified, she said in open court, that committee has to get the full and complete, full and complete review of what happened on January 6th and the lead-up to it. I challenge Bennie Thompson today to have the courage to come to this courthouse. If you are going to charge somebody with a crime. He’s got to be man enough to show up here or send somebody like “Shifty Schiff” or “Fang Fang Swalwell”, send Liz Cheney, send somebody on your committee that has the guts to come here and accuse somebody ever crime.
It is outrageous. And for them to sit there and try to get a complete hearing and they won’t bring in any testimony, any testimony about FBI involvement, any testimony about DHS (Department of Homeland Security) involvement, any testimony about any other involvement and what’s driving this – the total and complete illegitimacy of Joe Biden.
Trump won. Joe Biden is illegitimate. 50% of the American people believe that today. And they believe that not from hearing from mainstream media, from our great colleagues in the media, because they won’t show any of it. That information has been suppressed from day one, but almost 50% of the American people believe it. You can’t govern this country if you’re not looked at as legitimate.
This is why no head of state in the world treats him with any respect. This is why the Chinese Communist Party doesn’t treat him with no respect. This is why the Saudis embarrass him and humiliate him when he’s over with a fist bump. You don’t do that to a legitimate president United States.
We have a constitutional crisis in this nation right now and they’re charging me with a crime. Have the guts and the courage, the guts and the courage to show up here and say exactly why it’s a crime. Bennie Thompson is a total, absolute disgrace in the show trial they’re running is a disgrace.
And I will promise you one thing. When the Republicans have a sweeping victory on November 8th, starting in January, you’re going to get a real, you’re going to get a real committee. You’re going to get a real committee with a ranking member who will be a Democrat.
You will have a minority counsel that will be a Democrat. And this will be run appropriately and the American people will get the full story. I got to tell you, I’m totally so ashamed of the Congress today for not for sending staffers over here to try to sell their case.
They should be here, the senior people on the committee shouldn’t have to send staffers. They should send themselves. Thank you very much.”
Bannon is charged with defying a subpoena from the Jan. 6 committee that sought his records and testimony.
He was indicted in November on two counts of criminal contempt of Congress, one month after the Justice Department received a congressional referral. Upon conviction, each count carries a minimum of 30 days of jail and as long as a year behind bars.
