Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon will neither testify nor call witnesses in his contempt trial according to attorneys.
The legal team for President Trump’s former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, has stated that Bannon will not testify and that they will not introduce new evidence or call any witnesses during the course of the trial.
Bannon was charged with contempt of Congress after refusal to comply with the January 6th Committee’s subpoena, due to his executive privilege.
Despite the law (and common sense) being on his side, the Judge presiding over the trial refused to throw the charges out, and also threw out nearly all of the defenses Bannon was prepared to use, including asserting that his executive privilege shielded him from complying with the House January 6th Committee.
For this reason, Bannon’s legal team refuses to play along and have him testify or call any witnesses–they have been railroaded by the judge.
Prosecution called only two witnesses–committee staff member Kristin Amerling, and FBI Agent Stephen Hart.
The entire trial is seen by many as political theater and an attempt to attack and dispose of political opposition, rather than a fair trial in pursuit of justice.
Earlier in the week, after the trial’s start, Bannon unloaded on the January 6th Committee’s chair Bennie Thompson for his cowardice.
“I challenge Bennie Thompson… to have the courage to come to this courthouse. If he’s gonna charge somebody with a crime, he’s gotta be man enough to show up here. Send somebody in the Committee who has the guts to come here and accuse somebody of a crime,” Bannon begins.
“They won’t bring in any testimony,” he continues, “any testimony about FBI involvement, any testimony of DHS involvement. The total and complete illegitimacy of Joe Biden. Trump won, Joe Biden is illegitimate–50% of the American people believe that.”
“We have a constitutional crisis in this nation right now and they’re charging me with a crime. Have the guts and the courage to show up here and say exactly why it’s a crime. Bennie Thompson is a total, absolute disgrace and this show trial they’re running is a disgrace. And I will promise you one thing: When the Republicans have a sweeping victory on November 8th, starting in January, you’re going to get a real–you’re going to get a real committee with a ranking member who will be a Democrat. You will have a minority counsel that will be a Democrat. And this will be run appropriately and the American people will get the full story,” Bannon finishes.
Steve Bannon is currently a victim of political persecution and a personal vendetta by the establishment. As such, one may see his refusal to testify as a sort of protest against an unjust system.
