Stephen Bannon criminally charged for failing to comply with subpoena

Stephen Bannon, a longtime adviser to former United States president Donald Trump, has been criminally charged for failing to comply with a subpoena issued by a House of Representatives committee investigating the January 6th attack on the Capitol, the US justice department said on Friday.

Mr Bannon has refused to comply with subpoenas seeking documents and his testimony, citing Mr Trump’s insistence – already rejected by one judge – that his communications are protected by the legal doctrine of executive privilege.

Mr Bannon (67) was charged with one count of contempt of Congress involving his refusal to appear for a deposition and another involving his refusal to produce documents, the US justice department said.

“Since my first day in office, I have promised justice department employees that together we would show the American people by word and deed that the department adheres to the rule of law, follows the facts and the law and pursues equal justice under the law,” attorney general Merrick Garland said in a statement.

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“Today’s charges reflect the department’s steadfast commitment to these principles.” – Reuters