Steve Bannon's Jan. 6 committee delay on Trump's behalf can't succeed
Bannon's "executive privilege" defense shouldn't protect him from being held in contempt.
By Hayes Brown, MSNBC Opinion Columnist
It’s not surprising that the first round of subpoenas that the Jan. 6 committee sent out are being ignored. Not when former President Donald Trump all but instructed the four former officials in question to refuse to comply.
Trump’s favorite tactic when faced with potential legal consequences, especially from Congress, is to draw out the process in court, running out the clock until the danger has passed. It’s safe to assume that’s what he intends to do this time as well. The major difference between now and then is that Trump is no longer president. This time, the power and law are squarely against him — a fact that he and his cronies need to be reminded of without hesitation or delay.
The Associated Press reported Thursday that a lawyer for the former president has sent a letter to the potential witnesses, claiming that he means to assert executive privilege over any communications covered under the subpoenas. Two of the recipients — former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and former Pentagon official Kash Patel — are so far “engaging with” the committee, the panel’s leadership said in a statement Friday. (Dan Scavino, who handled Trump’s social media strategy in the White House, as of Friday afternoon had managed to avoid being served his subpoena.)
But far-right podcast host Steve Bannon is taking his cues from Trump. “We will comply with the directions of the courts, when and if they rule on these claims of both executive and attorney-client privileges,” attorney Robert Costello wrote in a letter to the committee. “Since these privileges belong to President Trump, and not to Mr. Bannon, until these issues are resolved, Mr. Bannon is legally unable to comply with your subpoena.”
READ MORE: Steve Bannon's Jan. 6 committee delay on Trump's behalf can't succeed:
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/steve-bannon...
Posted By: Dea. Ron Gray Sr.
Tuesday, October 12th 2021 at 12:24PM
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