Former Trump adviser Bannon pleads not guilty to obstructing Jan. 6
congressional probe
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[November 18, 2021]
By Sarah N. Lynch
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Former President
Donald Trump's longtime adviser Steve Bannon on Wednesday pleaded not
guilty to criminal charges that he defied a congressional subpoena from
a U.S. House panel investigating the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot,
according to court documents.
Bannon, who made his initial appearance in federal court on Monday, was
indicted last week by a federal grand jury on two counts of contempt of
Congress.
Bannon has vowed to fight the congressional subpoena, telling reporters
outside the courthouse on Monday that he believes the prosecution is a
politically motivated attack against him by President Joe Biden,
Attorney General Merrick Garland and House of Representatives Speaker
Nancy Pelosi.
He was due to be arraigned in court on Thursday, but agreed to waive his
right to a formal reading of the indictment, according to court
documents filed on Wednesday.
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He is still expected to take part on Thursday in a virtual status
conference hearing on the case before U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols.
The U.S. House of Representatives, led by the Democrats, voted on Oct.
21 to hold Bannon in contempt, leaving it up to the Justice Department,
headed by Garland, to decide on any charges.
A Republican, Trump has sought to stonewall the House committee and
directed his associates not to cooperate, claiming that a former
president has a right to keep the requested material confidential under
a legal doctrine called executive privilege.
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![](../images/111821PIX/news_d7.jpg)
Steve Bannon, talk show host and former White House advisor to
former President Donald Trump, looks on as he leaves an appearance
in U.S. District Court after being indicted for refusal to comply
with a congressional subpoena over the January 6 attacks on the U.S.
Capitol in Washington, U.S., November 15, 2021. REUTERS/Kevin
Lamarque
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Bannon, a prominent figure in right-wing media
circles, was an architect of Trump's 2016 presidential victory and
served as White House chief strategist in 2017.
He faces one contempt count for refusing to appear for a deposition
before the House Select Committee and a second for refusing to
produce documents.
Contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year
in prison along with a fine of up to $100,000.
In a fiery speech before the riot, Trump told followers to "fight
like hell." Four people died in the riot. A Capitol Police officer
attacked by protesters died a day later and four officers later took
their own lives. About 140 officers were injured.
(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Howard Goller)
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