The criminal case against Steve Bannon, the former adviser and confidant of ex-President Donald Trump, has started in the American capital Washington. Bannon appears for contempt of parliament.
In the opening statement, prosecutor Amanda Vaughn said Bannon had “decided the law didn’t apply to him” when he ignored a subpoena from the parliamentary committee investigating the January 6, 2021 storming of the Capitol.
Bannon has so far refused to testify and provide documents. He invoked the right of presidents, the so-called “executive privilege,” to keep certain documents and conversations confidential. The Parliamentary Committee and prosecutors believe that confidentiality claim is outweighed by a parliamentary subpoena and have taken Bannon to court.
About ten days ago, the ex-Trump adviser announced through his lawyer that he is willing to testify before the House of Representatives committee.
The committee, made up of seven Democrats and two Republicans, has been investigating Donald Trump’s role and responsibility in his supporters’ attack on Congress for months. Four people died in the storming of the Capitol. The commission considers Bannon an important witness, partly because he warned that “all hell would break loose” on January 6.
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