(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
bannon
WASHINGTON DC (77WABC/AP) — Steve Bannon, a longtime ally and former top adviser to former President Donald Trump, surrendered to federal authorities on Monday to face contempt charges. Bannon defied a subpoena from a House committee investigating the January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Bannon was taken into custody Monday morning and is expected to appear in court later in the afternoon. The 67-year-old was indicted on Friday on two counts of criminal contempt – one for refusing to appear for a congressional deposition and the other for refusing to provide documents in response to the committee’s subpoena.
A defiant Bannon spoke to reporters and proclaimed, “We’re taking down the Biden regime.” Bannon added, “I want you guys to stay focused, stay on message. Remember, signal, not noise. This is all noise, that’s signal.”
Bannon didn’t take questions from reporters.
When Bannon declined to appear for his deposition in October, his attorney said the former Trump adviser had been directed by a lawyer for Trump citing executive privilege not to answer questions.
The indictment came as a second expected witness, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, defied his own subpoena from the committee on Friday and as Trump has escalated his legal battles to withhold documents and testimony about the insurrection. The indictment is the first in history to involve a contempt prosecution of someone claiming executive privilege.
