Steve Bannon's Lawyer Stepping Down from Contempt of Congress Case

[blogslug]

Link to tweet

Scott MacFarlane @MacFarlaneNews

NEW: Steve Bannon's defense attorney, Robert Costello, is stepping away from Contempt of Congress case

In new court motion, Costello said: "There has always been the possibility that I might be called as a witness in this matter" due to Costello's interaction w/ Jan 6 Committee

Costello said: "There has always been the possibility that I might be called as a witness in this matter"

[gratuitous]

3. "Gee, your honor, I had no idea my attorney was in this up to his eyeballs"

So, Imma need a 6 or 9 month setover while I try to find replacement counsel with the same casual relationship with ethics and conflicts of interest.

[FreepFryer]

2. womp womp client atty privilege doesnt apply when the client is criming (nt)

[Beachnutt]

4. What's the next court date ?

[blogslug]

9. July 18

Stevie 3-Shirts has been trying like hell to get it postponed until October but so, far he's SOL.

[H2O Man]

5. Recommended.

It is getting interesting. This recent article puts it in perspective:

https://abovethelaw.com/2022/07/after-court-tosses-steve-bannons-ploy-to-blame-his-lawyer-he-tries-repeating-it-again-louder/

[Ohio Joe]

6. Heh... Not only a good article...

But really funny. Good stuff.

[H2O Man]

7. Costello will testify

to the J6 Committee, I think, about Bannon's considering blaming him for Steve's refusal to testify. Speculation on my part here, but I'd bet that Costello recognized Bannon needed to try to make a deal with the DOJ.

[Ohio Joe]

11. Interesting article at EmptyWheel.net on Costello...

After belatedly joining Steve Bannon’s defense team as DOJ was collecting evidence about whether his claims matched the available evidence, Robert Costello is now asking to withdraw, citing a concern — one DOJ raised in a phone call on December 2, the same day he filed his notice of appearance — that he might have to serve as a witness.

--snip--

Maybe my math is off, but December 11, 2020 is less than three years ago — less than two, even!!

All that said, Costello — who was implicated in the Mueller investigation for attempting to broker a pardon to keep Michael Cohen silent — was being hired by someone roughly three years ago, though it wasn’t Bannon. It was this guy, Rudy Giuliani, the guy through whom Costello had previously attempted to broker a pardon.

The legal representation of Trumpsters is always so incestuous it’s hard to tell where representation for one person begins and the other ends (as a reminder, Bannon’s other two lawyers either used to — David Schoen — or reportedly still do — Evan Corcoran — also represent Trump). But at least according to Costello’s filing, he’s been representing both Bannon and Rudy all this time.

https://www.emptywheel.net/2022/07/08/robert-costello-reveals-he-was-working-for-steve-bannon-a-year-before-he-was-publicly-hired/

I think this makes Costello up to his eyeballs in things. I almost have to wonder if he is the one who might want the deal with DOJ and toss Bannon and Rudy under the bus... I get the feeling that however things go, they are going to turn on each other and it may have started.

[H2O Man]

16. Good point.

I think Costello knows a heck of a lot about both Bannon and Rudy. I don't know enough about him to have an opinion on if he crossed the line, but it sure sounds like he got mighty close to it. And I don't know if he is a talented musician .... but when he starts singing, I'll be listening!

[msfiddlestix]

8. Thanks for the link, my first introduction.. amazing and informative

[H2O Man]

10. One is safe

in speculating that Bannon is fucked.

[malaise]

13. Yah think?

[H2O Man]

18. Just speculation on my part!

But there are certain indicators!

[msfiddlestix]

14. gosh, let's hope we live long enough to see that.

[H2O Man]

19. We will.

Things are reaching a tipping point for him. Judges don't like to be played with constant attempts to delay.

[msfiddlestix]

25. ✔️ n/t

[malaise]

12. The Slobfather's goons' and associates are having

Last edited Fri Jul 8, 2022, 11:24 AM - Edit history (3)

A rethink as a result of the Jan 6 Hearings.
I wonder what threats were sent out to Cippo 😀😀😀
Will Cippo be 2022s John Dean?

[Paper Roses]

17. One can only hope. n/t

[H2O Man]

27. It's interesting.

Now, keep in mind that John Dean wasn't clean when he came to the Nixon White House. There used to be a grumpy old female attorney who noted this like clock-work on OP/threads when Dean came out against President Cheney and his lap dog, W. And in giving testimony, Dean was also looking to keep himself out of jail. He still says that he "served time," though he doesn't mention it was in a motel room, not a jail cell. Most inmates know that there is a difference.

A number of people wondered if Cassidy Hutchinson would be the new John Dean in the 24 hours before she testified at the J6 hearing. But she wasn't trying to cover her own misdeeds -- in fact, she admitted being proud of her work in the White House up until the events surrounding the insurrection. Still, like Dean, one can forgive her for those past sins, even though she didn't break any laws like Dean had. She wasn't part of the president's criminal organization, as Dean had been.

Now, "Cippo" appears to be an intelligent person ..... though certainly, like literally everyone around Trump, flawed. But being immoral or unethical isn't always a crime. But he might have crossed a line that was drawn in the sand shortly after Watergate was exposed, regarding his position being lawyer to the White House (hence, public), rather than to the president. Much like Bannon'a lawyer Costello, he at very least put his toes right up to that line.

[malaise]

28. They're all scumbags

but I’m cheering on anyone who will help destroy Slobby and this fascist madness

[H2O Man]

29. Indeed, they are.

I am hoping that Hutchinson and the young lady testifying next will see the errors of their ways, and repent. Testifying truthfully is a good start. I find them less offensive that the older, ethically castrated males in the Trump cult.

[Frustratedlady]

15. I didn't think there was any way Bannon could grow uglier or messier, but he proved me wrong.

He hasn't used all that time he's had from public to improve himself (inside and out) for court hearings.

A shower would help.

[RockRaven]

20. Oh, wow, another delay, boy I did not see that coming...

[Bev54]

22. Last ditch effort, nothing else was working on the judge.

[appleannie1]

21. I heard Rudy has extra time on his hands.

[appleannie1]

23. What is with the hair clips on his outermost shirt?

And why would anyone need or even want multiple layers of shirts in July? And black at that. I sure would not want to be downwind of him.

[blogslug]

24. I think those are pens

As for why that man wears 3 shirts 24/7/365, I have no idea.

[dchill]

26. "Ignorance of the law is no excuse."

A good rule of thumb, as it were, Steve.

[Grins]

30. "... might be called as a witness."

The same reason “Gym” Jordan and Banks could not be on the 06 January Committee.