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A2 u.s. news
Monday 11 July 2022
Trump ally Bannon now willing to testify before Jan. 6 panel

By HOPE YEN and year for resisting the com- ple come forward, includ-
FARNOUSH AMIRI mittee’s subpoena. He has ing Cassidy Hutchinson,
Associated Press argued that his testimony is he’s decided that he wants
WASHINGTON (AP) — Steve protected by Trump’s claim to come in, and if he wants
Bannon, a former White of executive privilege. The to come in, I’m certain that
House strategist and ally committee contends such the committee would be
of Donald Trump who fac- a claim is dubious because very interested in hearing
es criminal charges after Trump had fired Bannon from him.”
months of defying a con- from the White House in Bannon’s trial on the two
gressional subpoena over 2017 and Bannon was thus criminal counts is July 18.
the Capitol riot, has told a private citizen when he A hearing in his case was
the House committee in- was consulting with the scheduled for Monday
vestigating the attack that then-president in the run- in federal court in Wash-
he is now willing to testify. up to the riot on Jan. 6, ington. Bannon has been
Bannon’s turnabout was 2021. Still, in recent days, seeking a delay in his trial
conveyed in a letter late Former White House strategist Steve Bannon speaks with reporters as the former president to at least fall.
Saturday from his attor- after departing federal court on Nov. 15, 2021, in Washington. grew frustrated with what It’s unclear how much Ban-
ney, lawmakers said, as Associated Press he decried as a one-sided non intends to cooperate.
the committee prepares to we have for him,” said deposition with sworn tes- presentation by the com- He has expressed a pref-
air some of its most striking Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif. timony. Bannon had been mittee of seven Demo- erence to appear before
revelations yet this week She and other committee one of the highest-profile crats and two Republicans, the committee in a public
against Trump in what may members said in television Trump-allied holdouts in Trump said he would waive hearing. The committee is
be its final set of hearings. interviews Sunday they in- refusing to testify before that privilege claim, ac- making clear he must first sit
“I expect that we will be tend to have Bannon sit for the committee, leading cording to a letter Satur- for a private interview, typi-
hearing from him and there a private interview, which to two criminal counts of day to Bannon’s lawyer. “If cally in a sworn deposition.
are many questions that they typically conduct in a contempt of Congress last you reach an agreement It’s also possible he may opt
on a time and place for to appear and then refuse
your testimony, I will waive to answer questions, citing
executive privilege for you, his Fifth Amendment right
which allows for you to go against self-incrimination.
in and testify truthfully and “The way that we have
fairly, as per the request of treated every single witness
the unselect committee of is the same, that they come
political thugs and hacks,” in, they talk to the commit-
Trump wrote. tee there,” Raskin said. “If
The committee’s Thursday they’re going to take a de-
evening hearing will ex- position, they’re sworn un-
amine the three-hour plus der oath. It’s videotaped.
stretch when Trump failed It’s recorded, and then we
to act as a mob of support- take it from there.”
ers stormed the Capitol. It The committee says it
will be the first hearing in wants to hear from Ban-
prime time since the June 9 non because he “had spe-
debut that was viewed by cific knowledge about the
20 million people. events planned for Jan. 6
A hearing Tuesday will fo- before they occurred.” It
cus on the plotting and cited as an example com-
planning of the insurrection ments that he made on his
by white nationalist groups podcast the day before
such as the Proud Boys, the riot.
the Oath Keepers and the “It’s not going to happen
Three Percenters, and will like you think it’s going to
also highlight testimony happen. OK, it’s going to
taken Friday from former be quite extraordinarily dif-
White House counsel Pat ferent. All I can say is strap
Cipollone. in,” Bannon said in that
It comes after surprise tes- podcast. “All hell is going
timony last month from to break loose tomorrow.
former Trump White House ... So many people said,
aide Cassidy Hutchinson ‘Man, if I was in a revolu-
provided the most com- tion, I would be in Washing-
pelling evidence yet that ton.’ Well, this is your time
Trump could be linked to a in history.” House investi-
federal crime. Since then, gators have been digging
the committee has seen deeper into the evidence
an influx of new information collected so far about
and confidential tips. the role extremist groups
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., played in the deadly insur-
suggested that Bannon rection and what Trump
“had a change of heart, was doing as the violence
and after watching, pre- ensued down the street
sumably, all of these peo- from the White House.q