President Donald Trump’s former senior adviser Steve Bannon has issued a subpoena to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and her allies on the Democrats’ Jan. 6 Committee as he readies for his criminal contempt of Congress trial.
Bannon will stand trial next month for charges of defying a congressional subpoena.
To help him prepare a defense, Bannon subpoenaed Pelosi and members of the House select committee “investigating” the January 6 riot.
According to CNN, Bannon’s legal team subpoenaed 16 lawmakers and congressional staffers to testify at his July trial and to produce documents.
The subpoenas were sent to all nine members of the select committee, three committee staffers, and General Counsel for the House of Representatives Douglas Letter.
Bannon’s legal team did not stop there and issued subpoenas to House Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and Rep. Jim Clyburn.
“I believed from the start that it’s a purely political motive going after Bannon,” said David Schoen, one of Bannon’s attorneys.
“They’ll never get his testimony now,” Schoen said before questioning the motives of the lawmakers.
Steve Bannon subpoenas Nancy Pelosi, Liz Cheney and J6 committee members… https://t.co/Wdj91rQ7Pf
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) June 7, 2022
Schoen said:
“I have to draw the conclusion it’s purely a political message.
“They’re afraid of the message Bannon puts out there.”
Thomas Spulak, who served as general counsel to the House of Representatives in the 1990s, told CNN that Bannon may never get them under oath.
“In this particular case I’m extremely confident that the staff members and members of the House would be shielded by the Speech and Debate Clause,” he said if they file motions to block Bannon’s move.
“I’m very confident that defense would be upheld, and they will not be compelled to produce anything or appear for anything,” Spulak said.
Steve Bannon would like a number of lawmakers to testify at his contempt of Congress trial next month, including Nancy Pelosi and House select committee members. Legal experts don’t see that happening.https://t.co/455mIpxy3V
— Sara Murray (@SaraMurray) June 7, 2022
Steve Bannon has subpoenaed Nancy Pelosi and other select (sham) committee members as he builds his defense for trial next month. pic.twitter.com/kLTv1heJ1P
— Suzy (@Suzy_NotSuzy) June 7, 2022
