Attorney General Merrick Garland vows to apply 'facts and the law' if Steve Bannon contempt referred to DOJ - USA TODAY
With a House vote looming to advance contempt proceedings against former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, Attorney General Merrick Garland made no commitment Thursday to pursue criminal charges against Bannon if Congress referred the case for prosecution.
But the attorney general, in testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, vowed to to "apply the facts and law and make a decision consistent with the principles of prosecution" should the Trump adviser's fate fall to the Justice Department.
The case is likely to land in Garland's lap as soon as this week, as the House is expected to uphold the contempt findings recommended earlier this week by the select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack, leading to a likely referral to Justice for criminal prosecution.
More:January 6 committee votes to hold Steve Bannon in contempt
More:Steve Bannon 'blew off a congressional subpoena' and may be held in contempt of Congress
Bannon, who served as White House chief strategist for the first few months of the Trump presidency, has ignored subpoenas from the Jan. 6 panel seeking documents and testimony about the deadly assault on the Capitol carried out by a pro-Trump mob.
The select committee voted unanimously Tuesday to hold Bannon in contempt.
The panel has issued subpoenas to several other figures from Trump's orbit, including former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and longtime Trump social media director Dan Scavino, with the aim of pressing them on what they knew before the attack.
Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., has warned that if others choose not to comply, they will face similar contempt charges.
“I want other witnesses to understand something very plainly: If you’re thinking of following the path Mr. Bannon has gone down, you’re on notice that this is what you’ll face” Thompson said.
Contributing: Savannah Behrmann
source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/10/21/ag-garland-vows-apply-facts-law-if-bannon-referred-doj/6116206001/
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