Former Trump aide Steve Bannon charged with criminal contempt of Congress
Fox News correspondent David Spunt reports from the Department of Justice on Tuesday's testimony and on the prosecution's strategy which may lead to 'grandstanding' if Bannon allowed to testify before the January 6th committee on 'Special Report.'
Steve Bannon's defense team announced Thursday that not only will the former White House aide not testify at his trial, no one else will be called by the defense either.
After federal prosecutors rested their case, the defense moved for an acquittal, arguing that the government had not proven its case against the one-time adviser to former President Donald Trump. He also stated that the defense would not be presenting a case of their own.
"You are not intending to present any evidence to the jury?" U.S. District Court Judge Carl Nichols asked.
"Correct," Bannon attorney David Schoen confirmed.
BANNON TRIAL: GOVERNMENT WITNESS HAS BOOK CLUB CONNECTION TO PROSECUTOR
Former White House strategist Steve Bannon arrives at the federal court in Washington, Thursday, July 21, 2022. Bannon, a one-time adviser to former President Donald Trump, faces criminal contempt of Congress charges after refusing for months to cooperate with the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) (The Associated Press)
The prosecution only called two witnesses in presenting their case to the jury, and the defense argued that the government's case hinged on the testimony of one of them, House Jan. 6 committee chief counsel Kristin Amerling. Amerling testified regarding Bannon's failure to comply with the committee's subpoena.
Bannon's defense pointed to communications between Bannon and the committee that they said indicated that he was simply negotiating terms and had not intended to defy the subpoena.
JUDGE DENIES STEVE BANNON'S REQUEST FOR DELAY TO CRIMINAL CONTEMPT TRIAL
Former White House strategist Steve Bannon leaves federal court in Washington, Monday, July 18, 2022. Jury selection began Monday in the trial of Steve Bannon, a one-time top adviser to former President Donald Trump. He is facing criminal contempt of Congress charges after refusing for months to cooperate with the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) (The Associated Press)
Prosecutor Amanda Vaughn argued that the main point was that Bannon had not provided records by the set deadline. She also pointed to how he posted on social media that he would not comply, and sent a letter the day before a deposition saying he would not attend.
The defense also argued that Amerling's testimony was insufficient because she was not the one who signed or entered the dates in the subpoena and that the one responsible for this – committee chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., had not testified.
Former White House strategist Steve Bannon arrives at federal court for the second day of jury selection in his contempt-of-Congress trial, Tuesday, July 19, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
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Judge Nichols called for a recess until 1 p.m. and said he would rule on the motion for acquittal after the break.
Should Nichols deny the motion, the trial would move to jury instructions. Prior to that, however, Bannon's defense indicated that would like to present an argument that they were not given a fair chance to advocate for Bannon because they never had an opportunity to question Thompson.
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