Steve bannon, close ally of
Donald trump, surrendered to police Monday morning in Washington after being charged with “obstructing the investigative powers of Congress” over the
attack on the Capitol, January 6th. He was presented to federal judge Robin Meriweather who served him on charges against him, before being released pending a possible trial.
The 67-year-old former adviser is being prosecuted for refusing to testify and to forward documents to the House of Representatives special committee which is investigating the role of the ex-Republican president in the assault on his supporters. He faces between 30 days and one year in prison for each count.
“Fight” against Biden
“We are fighting the Biden regime every day,” he told reporters as he arrived in front of the FBI premises in Washington. “I want you to stay focused on the message,” he added to the address of supporters of the former president. “This is all noise. “
Despite his summons in mid-October, Steve Bannon did not appear before elected officials invoking the right of presidents to keep certain documents and discussions confidential.
He did not hold any official function on January 6.
A discreet but very influential advisor, he had played a crucial role in the election of Donald Trump by giving a decidedly populist turn to the Republican billionaire’s campaign in 2016, before being pushed to exit the following year. He did not hold any official function on January 6 but appears to have discussed the protest with the president in the previous days, according to the commission of inquiry. The commission, which has already heard from more than 150 witnesses, launched new summons last week against relatives of the Republican billionaire, including his former spokesperson at the White House Kayleigh McEnany or her advisor Stephen Miller.
The indictment of Steve Bannon is according to the commission “a clear message” on the risks incurred for all those who refuse to cooperate with elected officials. Another close to Donald Trump, his former chief of staff Mark Meadows, also snubbed a summons to appear before the commission on Friday. On January 6, thousands of Donald Trump supporters gathered in Washington as Congress certified Joe Biden’s victory. The former real estate mogul had addressed the crowd, hammering, baselessly, that the election had been “stolen” from him. Several hundred demonstrators then launched an assault on the temple of American democracy, sowing chaos and violence even in the hemicycle.