Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon's refusal to answer questions from members of the House Intelligence Committee Tuesday about his time in the Trump administration earned him an on-the-spot subpoena, according to a report.
Bannon's attorney told the panel his client would not disclose information about his tenure in the Trump White House, including key moments leading up to the firing of former FBI Director James Comey and his involvement in the drafting of a statement responding to inquiries about a June 2016 campaign meeting with a Russian lawyer, per Politico.
It was not immediately clear whether Bannon asserted executive privilege to avoid answering the queries, the news outlet reported.
Bannon's behind-closed-doors appearance before the committee as part of its investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election follows the publication of Michael Wolff's tell-all book, Fire and Fury: Inside The Trump White House.
Bannon was quoted in the book making disparaging comments about the first family, the backlash to which resulted in him losing his job as chairman of Breitbart News and support from Republican mega-donors like Rebekah Mercer.
Among his most controversial remarks was describing Donald Trump Jr.'s involvement in the June 2016 meeting with the Kremlin-linked lawyer as "treasonous."
The panel's top GOP lawmaker, Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, and Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., were named as some of those frustrated by Bannon's lack of cooperation, sources told Politico.
It was reported by the New York Times earlier Tuesday that Bannon also received a subpoena from special counsel Robert Mueller last week.
