'Biden ordered Garland to prosecute me and this will be the misdemeanor from hell': Steve Bannon tears into Democrats as he is cuffed but then RELEASED without bail after appearing in court for defying his January 6 subpoena
- Steve Bannon promised to go on 'offense' as he left court on Monday afternoon
- 'This is going to be the misdemeanour from hell for Merrick Garland, Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden,' he said
- Earlier he arrived at a Washington FBI field office on Monday morning to hand himself in
- The 67-year-old faces two charges of contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a subpoena
- He arrived in a three-SUV convoy and told supporters to keep their eye on the prize of bringing down Biden
- 'I want you guys to stay focused, stay on message,' he told a GETTR livestream
- He used the media interest and a brief address to promote the slate of guests on his War Room podcast
- After his court speech, Bannon's podcast colleagues said that U.S. marshals forced him to wear handcuffs
- He is expected to appear in court later on Monday and could face up to a year in prison on each count
- Bannon has refused to cooperate with the January 6 committee's subpoena citing 'executive privilege'
Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon lashed out at President Joe Biden and promised to go on offense after appearing before a judge on criminal contempt charges on Monday afternoon.
'I'm never gonna back down and they they took on the wrong guy this time,' he told a throng of waiting journalists.
Bannon, 67, is the first person to face criminal charges in the congressional probe into the role played by former President Trump and his aides in the runup to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol as they sought to overturn election results.
He faces two misdemeanour charges of contempt of Congress for refusing to respond to a House subpoena.
'This is going to be the misdemeanour from hell for Merrick Garland, Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden,' he said after his first court appearance.
'Joe Biden ordered Merrick Garland to prosecute me from the White House lawn when he got off Marine One, and we're going to go on the offence.
'We're tired of playing defense.'
As might be expected from one of Trump's top propagandists, he used the media attention to deliver his verdict on the case against him - after earlier livestreaming the moment he gave himself up to the FBI.
After his court speech, Bannon's podcast colleagues said that U.S. marshals forced him to wear handcuffs after he surrendered and while he waiting to appear in front of the judge.
'It’s heinous to treat somebody like that,' said Raheem Kassam. 'Stay strong. Hashtag ‘stand with Bannon.'
Former Trump Administration White House advisor Steve Bannon leaves the federal court in Washington, DC, after a brief hearing. He did not enter a plea and is due to appear again on Thursday
Steve Bannon spoke to the media after leaving Washington D.C. district court . 'I'm never gonna back down and they they took on the wrong guy this time,' he told a throng of journalists
Bannon spoke alongside his attorney David Schoen, who defended Trump during his second impeachment earlier this year
Bannon made the most of the journalists and film crews on hand to film his surrender to the authorities and exit from court
Bannon did not enter a plea during the brief hearing before Washington D.C. Magistrate Judge Robin M. Meriweather.
He was released without bail but is required to check in weekly with officials. He was also ordered to surrender his passport.
He is due back in court on Thursday.
Bannon, dressed in his trademark style of three layered black shirts beneath a green waxed Barbour jacket, arrived earlier in a three-SUV convoy.
Two security guards cleared a path through the waiting media as he made his way to the field office.
He halted on the sidewalk to deliver a political message, and advertised the morning's running order on his War Room podcast - effectively giving a live introduction even as he was preparing to surrender to law enforcement offices waiting for him inside.
'I don't want anybody to take their eye off the ball of what we do every day,' he told viewers on the social media app GETTR.
'We got the Hispanics coming on our side, African Americans coming on our side.
'We're taking down the Biden regime every day.'
He signed off by urging supporters to remember the bigger picture.
'I want you guys to stay focused, stay on message,' he said.
'Remember: Signal not noise. This is all noise, that's signal.'
Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon arrived at an FBI field office on Monday morning to face two charges of contempt of Congress after refusing to comply with a subpoena
Masked security guards helped him through a throng of waiting journalists as he made his way to the FBI field office
He delivered a message to supporters before entering, using the GETTR social media app to transmit a livestream comments
Bannon, 67, is one of more than 30 people close to the former president who have been ordered by the House select committee to testify about what happened in the run-up to the deadly attack.
Investigators hope that their action against Bannon will spur other witnesses, such as former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, to testify.
U.S. Representative Adam Schiff, Democratic chair of the House Intelligence Committee and a member of the Jan. 6 panel, told NBC's 'Meet the Press' on Sunday: 'It will have a very strong focusing effect on their decision-making.'
Bannon's supporters said they did not expect him to be held in custody after Monday's hearing.
Radio host John Fredericks told his listeners shortly before Bannon handed himself in: 'I couldn't imagine that [the judge] is going to take him into custody as a political prisoner. Because that's really what this is about.
'If he didn't have War Room, and if he didn't have a live radio and TV talk show, which has the biggest audience in the world - bar none - this wouldn't be happening to him.'
And Bannon's daughter said her father was being used to distract from the failings of the Biden administration.
'I think this is a political witch hunt,' Maureen Bannon told the War Room.
'I think that this regime is deflecting on crisis after crisis after crisis that's hitting the White House.
'So they're going after my dad to make it seem like there's nothing bad going on.'
It also emerged on Monday that Bannon will be represented by David Schoen, who defended Trump during his second impeachment.
Court documents filed on Monday showed that Schoen, a Boston College Law School graduate, had joined Bannon's team.
Investigators want to know what he told former President Trump on Dec. 30 when he reportedly urged him to focus efforts on Jan. 6.
He is also believed to have been present at the Willard Hotel a day before the protests, as key Trump supporters plotted how best to prevent Congress certifying the results of the election.
'All Hell is going to break lose tomorrow,' he told listeners to the War Room.
For his part, Bannon and his lawyers have cited Trump's claim that he had 'executive privilege' to justify his decision not to cooperate.
Bannon wore a green waxed jacket over his trademark layered shirt look
A protester held a sign accusing Bannon of being a 'coup plotter' as Bannon delivered his address to supporters
'We're taking down the Biden regime every day,' Bannon told supporters in a livestreamed address, which he also used to promote the pro-Trump GETTR social media app and his own War Room podcast
A protester holding a 'Clowns are not above the law' sign arrived early for Bannon's appearance on Monday morning
That prompted the Department of Justice to file two charges of contempt of Congress against Bannon last week - one for refusing to appear for a deposition and the other for refusing to provide documents in response to the subpoena.
'Since my first day in office, I have promised Justice Department employees that together we would show the American people by word and deed that the department adheres to the rule of law, follows the facts and the law and pursues equal justice under the law,' said Attorney General Merrick Garland in a statement announcing the indictment.
'Today’s charges reflect the department’s steadfast commitment to these principles.'
The charging document says Bannon did not communicate with the committee at all from the time he received the subpoena on Sept. 24 until his lawyer said he would not be cooperating, hours after a deadline expired.
If convicted, Bannon could face as little as 30 days or up to one year in prison on each count. Fines range between $100 and $1,000.
He has maintained a defiant stance throughout.
Last week, two hours before the charges were announced, he told listeners to the War Room: 'Remember, there are no whining and no tears in the War Room.
'We’re taking action and that action is we’re taking over school boards, we’re taking over the Republican Party through the precinct committee strategy. We’re taking over all the elections.'
Bannon's lawyer Robert Costello previously said his client would not comply with any committee requests because Trump had directed him not to and argued that any testimony being sought was protected by executive privilege.
It is the second time Bannon has been indicted in 15 months. In August 2020 he was charged with duping thousands of donors who believed their money would help build Trump's wall, but the former president pardoned him the night before Joe Biden's inauguration.
Bannon's lawyer Robert Costello his client would not comply with any committee requests because Trump had directed him not to and argued that any testimony being sought was protected by executive privilege. Trump and Bannon are pictured together in 2017
Trump aides called to testify to House over the Capitol Riot and bid to overturn the election: List of subpoenas and the committee's reason behind them
Mark Meadows was White House chief of staff on Jan. 6
Mark Meadows: While serving as White House Chief of Staff, Meadows reportedly communicated with officials at the state level and in the Department of Justice as part of an effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election or prevent the election's certification.
Daniel Scavino: White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Scavino was with the former President on January 5th during a discussion of how to convince Members of Congress not to certify the election for Joe Biden. Prior to the January 6th March for Trump, Mr. Scavino promoted the event on Twitter, encouraging people to 'be a part of history.' And records indicate that Mr. Scavino was tweeting messages from the White House on January 6, 2021
Kashyap Patel: Patel was serving as chief of staff to Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller. The former President had appointed Mr. Patel to this position on November 10, the day after then-Secretary of Defense Mark Esper was replaced.
Stephen Bannon: Bannon reportedly communicated with former President Trump on December 30th, 2020, urging him to focus his efforts on January 6th. Mr. Bannon also reportedly attended a gathering at the Willard Hotel on January 5th, 2021, as part of an effort to persuade Members of Congress to block the certification of the election the next day. He is also quoted as saying on January 5 that 'all Hell is going to break lose tomorrow'.
Nicholas Luna: Luna, who served as the former President's personal assistant, was reportedly in the Oval Office the morning of January 6th, 2021, when the former President was on a phone call to Vice President Pence pressuring him not to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election
Molly Michael: Michael served as Special Assistant to the President and Oval Office Operations Coordinator, was involved in sending information about alleged election fraud to various individuals at the direction of President Trump, according to information obtained by the Select Committee.
Benjamin Williamson: While serving as Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Willliamson was reportedly contacted by a former White House official during the attack on the U.S. Capitol who urged him and Mr. Meadows, without success, to have the former President issue a statement addressing the attack and condemning the violence.
Christopher Liddell: Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff, was in the White House on January 6th and reportedly considered resigning on that day but stayed on 'after a great deal of persuasion.'
John McEntee was White House personnel director under Trump
John McEntee: The former White House Personnel Director, was reportedly present in the Oval Office when Rudolph Giuliani, Justin Clark, the former President, and former Vice President Pence discussed the audit process in Georgia and listened as Mr. Giuliani suggested seizing Dominion voting machines because of alleged fraud. Mr. McEntee was also reportedly involved in communications with officials in various federal agencies regarding loyalty to President Trump and specifically discouraged a number of individuals from seeking employment after the election as it would appear to be a concession of President Trump's defeat. In addition, according to reports, Mr. McEntee was in the White House on January 6th and was with former President Trump when he traveled to the Ellipse and spoke at the 'Stop the Steal' rally
Keith Kellogg: Vice President Pence's National Security Advisor who reportedly participated in at least one January 2021 meeting with the former President and Pat Cipollone during which the former President insisted that former Vice President Pence not certify the election. He was reportedly in the White House with the former President as he watched the January 6th attack unfold and has direct information about the former President's statements about and reaction to the insurrection. During that day, it is reported that Lt. Gen. Kellogg met with the former President and others before the rally at the Ellipse and then, after the rally, he urged the former President to send out a tweet to his supporters at the U.S. Capitol to help control the crowd.
Kayleigh McEnany: Former White House Press Secretary, who allegedly made multiple public statements from the White House and elsewhere about purported fraud in the November 2020 election. For example, in the first White House press conference after the election, Ms. McEnany claimed that there were 'very real claims' of fraud that the former President's reelection campaign was pursuing, and said that mail-in voting was something that 'we have identified as being particularly prone to fraud.' At another press conference, Ms. McEnany accused Democrats of 'welcoming fraud' and 'welcoming illegal voting.' In addition, Ms. McEnany was reportedly present at times with the former President as he watched the January 6th attack
Stephen Miller: Senior Advisor to the former President who, by his own account participated in efforts to spread false information about alleged voter fraud in the November 2020 election, as well as efforts to encourage state legislatures to alter the outcome of the November 2020 election by appointing alternate slates of electors.
Cassidy Hutchinson: Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs, who reportedly was at the White House on January 6th and was with the former President when he spoke at the 'Stop the Steal' rally that day. She also reportedly reached out directly via email and phone to Georgia Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs relating to a trip to Georgia by White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to attend an election audit.
Kenneth Klukowski: The former Senior Counsel to Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark, was involved in drafting a letter that urged legislatures in certain states to delay certification of the election, according to the report recently released by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. The report also states that Mr. Clark contacted Mr. Klukowski to prepare for an Oval Office meeting with the former President that took place on January 3rd, 2021.
William 'Bill' Stepien: He served as manager of the Trump 2020 reelection campaign. The campaign reportedly urged state and party officials to affect the outcome of the November 2020 election by asking states to delay or deny certification of electoral votes and by sending multiple slate of electoral votes to the United States Congress.
Jason Miller: According to the committee, the Senior Advisor to Trump's 2020 reelection campaign, spread the false claim that the November 2020 had been tainted by widespread fraud. Even before the election, Mr. Miller publicly claimed that Democrats would 'steal' the election, a message that individuals who attacked the U.S. Capitol echoed on January 6th. After the election, Mr. Miller coordinated with Mr. Trump and Rudolph Giuliani, and claimed in public press events that the election was rigged. Additionally, according to public reports, Mr. Miller participated in a meeting on January 5th, 2021 at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C., in which Mr. Giuliani, Stephen Bannon, and others discussed options for overturning the results of the November 2020 election by, among other things, pressuring Vice President Pence to not certify the electoral college results.
Angela McCallum: National executive assistant to Trump's 2020 re-election campaign, who reportedly participated in efforts to spread false information about alleged voter fraud in the November 2020 election and to encourage state legislatures to alter the outcome of the November 2020 election. Specifically, there is a publicly available recording of a voicemail that Ms. McCallum reportedly left for an unknown Michigan state representative. In the recording, Ms. McCallum wanted to know whether the Trump campaign could 'count on' the representative and said that the individual had the authority to appoint an alternate slate of electors based on purported evidence of widespread election fraud
John Eastman: Attorney who reportedly advised President Trump and others that Vice President Pence could reject electors from certain states in order to deny Joe Biden a majority of the Electoral College vote. In the days before January 6th, Mr. Eastman is reported to have participated in a briefing for nearly 300 state legislators regarding purported election fraud, during which he told the group that it was 'the duty of the[] legislatures to fix this, this egregious conduct, and make sure that we're not putting in the White House some guy that didn't get elected.' Mr. Eastman reportedly participated in the January 5th, 2021 meeting at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. and he spok
Michael Flynn: Former national security advisor who reportedly attended a December 18th, 2020 meeting in the Oval Office during which participants discussed seizing voting machines, declaring a national emergency, invoking certain national security emergency powers, and continuing to spread the false message that the November 2020 election had been tainted by widespread fraud. The day before, Flynn gave an interview on Newsmax TV during which he talked about seizing voting machines, foreign influence in the election, and the purported precedent for deploying military troops and declaring martial law to 'rerun' the election.
Bernard Kerik: Former NYPD Commissioner who reportedly participated in the January 5th, 2021 meeting at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. Mr. Kerik reportedly paid for rooms and suites in Washington, D.C. hotels that served as election-related command centers, and also worked with Mr. Rudolph Giuliani to investigate allegations of voter fraud and promote baseless litigation and 'Stop the Steal' efforts
Jeffrey Clark: Former DOJ lawyer who was reportedly involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and interrupt the peaceful transfer of power. The subpoena seeks deposition testimony and records from Mr. Clark as part of the Select Committee's investigation into the events of January 6th and the causes of that day's violence
Ali Alexander: Submitted permits for 'Stop the Steal' rally
Nathan Martin: Submitted permits for 'Stop the Steal' rally
Stop the Steal, LLC
Amy Kremer: Founder and Chair of Women for America First.
Kylie Kremer: Founder and Executive Director of WFAF.
Cynthia Chafian: Submitted the first permit application on behalf of WFAF for the January 6th rally, and founder of the Eighty Percent Coalition.
Caroline Wren: Listed on permit paperwork for the January 6th rally as 'VIP Advisor.'
Maggie Mulvaney: Wife of chief of staff Mick Mulvaney who was listed on permit paperwork for the January 6th rally as 'VIP Lead.'
Justin Caporale, of Event Strategies, Inc., listed on permit paperwork for the January 6th rally as 'Project Manager.'
Tim Unes, of Event Strategies, Inc., listed on permit paperwork for the January 6th rally as 'Stage Manager.'
Megan Powers, of MPowers Consulting LLC, listed on permit paperwork for the January 6th rally as 'Operations Manager for Scheduling and Guidance.'
Hannah Salem, of Salem Strategies LLC, listed on permit paperwork for the January 6th rally as 'Operations Manager for Logistics and Communications.'
Lyndon Brentnall, of RMS Protective Services, listed on permit paperwork for the January 6th rally as 'On-Site Supervisor.'
Katrina Pierson, former Trump campaign official, reportedly involved in the organization of the January 5th and 6th rallies and was in direct communication with the former President about the rallies.
(Source - January 6 Committee)
Bannon is the latest political prisoner of the Bid...
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