Former White House strategist Steve Bannon told the committee investigating the attack on the US Capitol that he might be willing to testify after all.
Bannon, who was in contact with former President Donald Trump in the days leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, riots, refused to comply with a subpoena issued last fall, claiming Trump’s executive privilege. Both the committee and the full House voted to hold him in contempt of Congress.
Overnight Sunday, the committee received a letter from Bannon’s attorney indicating that his former adviser, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., would testify. and committee member, she said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“I hope we hear from him. And there are a lot of questions that we have for him,” he said.
In recent days, as the former president grew frustrated with what he denounced as a one-sided filing by the committee of seven Democrats and two Republicans, Trump said he would give up that claim of privilege, according to a letter sent to Bannon’s attorney on Saturday.
“If you come to an agreement on a time and place for your testimony, I will waive executive privilege, allowing you to come in and testify truthfully and fairly, per the request of the unselected committee of political thugs and hackers,” Trump wrote.
Catch up on the January 6 hearings: Missed the January 6 hearings? What you need to know before they resume this week
Trump on January 6: Trump Documentary ‘Unprecedented’: Footage Shows President on Jan 6 But Lacks Big Reveal
Bannon faces contempt trial
Bannon, who was the White House’s chief strategist during the first months of Donald Trump’s presidency, refused to comply with subpoenas from the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol by a pro-Trump mob. The Select Committee voted unanimously on October 19 to hold Bannon in contempt of Congress.
“Mr. Bannon stands alone in his complete defiance of our subpoena,” Thompson said at the time. “That is not acceptable. No one in this country, no matter how rich or powerful, is above the law.”
The full House voted two days later, 229-202. All Democrats voted for it; most Republicans voted against.
Bannon was then indicted by the Department of Justice on a count of contempt and faces a trial start date of July 18 on that charge.
Committee member Rep. Jaime Raskin suggested to Bannon, “after seeing, presumably, all these people show up, you know, including Cassidy, Hutchinson, you know, he’s decided he wants in and if he wants in, I’m sure. that the committee would be very interested in hearing from him.
History of contempt charges: Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress. The last time such charges were successfully prosecuted? water gate
Both Raskin, who spoke to CBS News, and Lofgren indicated that Bannon would first be deposed under oath, privately, by the committee, as would other witnesses.
The committee’s next hearing is at 10 am Tuesday, with another following in prime time on Thursday.
Contributing: Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former Trump Strategist Steve Bannon Willing to Testify at Jan. 6 Panel