Trump-appointed judge rejected Steve Bannon's request to delay his contempt of Congress trial
Source: Business Insider
A federal judge refused to delay the July 18 trial of Steve Bannon on contempt of Congress charges, rejecting the onetime Trump advisor's request to push back the closely-watched criminal proceeding in light of publicity around the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. "I see no reason for extending this case any longer," said Judge Carl Nichols, at the close of an hours-long hearing in federal court.
"While I am certainly cognizant of Mr. Bannon's concerns regarding publicity, in my view the correct mechanism at this time for addressing that concern is through the [jury selection] process," he added. The decision from Nichols, a Trump appointee confirmed in 2019, punctuated a devastating string of rulings that will limit Bannon's defense as he stands trial on a pair of contempt charges, each carrying a maximum sentence of up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
In addition to denying the requested delay, Nichols handed the Justice Department victories on virtually all of the other pre-trial points of disagreement with Bannon. At the House's request, he quashed Bannon's subpoena seeking records and testimony from Speaker Nancy Pelosi and members of the January 6 committee. Nichols also rejected Bannon's request to raise executive privilege claims at trial and limited other defenses, including a challenge to the composition of the House January 6 committee and arguments that the Justice Department was going against its own policies in prosecuting him.
The judge had previously ruled that Bannon could not argue he was relying on the advice of counsel in refusing to sit for questioning or turn over subpoenaed records. "What's the point of going to trial here if there are no defenses?" asked Bannon's defense lawyer David Schoen, as the hearing came to an end.
Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/bannon-trial-house-january-6-contempt-congress-2022-7
Full headline: Trump-appointed judge rejected Steve Bannon's request to delay his contempt of Congress trial and also severely limited his defense arguments
I heard a local CBS affiliate radio anchor speaking with CBS Congressional Correspondent Scott McFarlane this fternoon (apparently a regular feature at this time of day) and he noted that there were lots of "losses" for Bannon in today's pre-trial hearing. The next pre-trial hearing is scheduled for this Thursday.
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Jul 11, 2022
Standby. Expecting judge to issue some rulings in pretrial motions in Steve Bannon Contempt of Congress case
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Judge rules prosecutors need only show deliberate intent by Bannon to defy Jan 6 Cmte subpoena. Feds needn’t show an “evil intent” & Bannon can’t present evidence that “he relied on advice of counsel” or privilege
Bannon can argue he was “unaware” of subpoena deadline date
1:43 PM · Jul 11, 2022
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Jul 11, 2022
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Judge rules prosecutors need only show deliberate intent by Bannon to defy Jan 6 Cmte subpoena. Feds needn’t show an “evil intent” & Bannon can’t present evidence that “he relied on advice of counsel” or privilege
Bannon can argue he was “unaware” of subpoena deadline date
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Judge shuts down other Bannon motions & possible defenses. Including rejecting a “public authority” defense. Bannon can’t argue he was following Trump’s orders .. as Trump is private citizen and … didn’t make that order. Per judge
1:56 PM · Jul 11, 2022
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Jul 11, 2022
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Judge shuts down other Bannon motions & possible defenses. Including rejecting a “public authority” defense. Bannon can’t argue he was following Trump’s orders .. as Trump is private citizen and … didn’t make that order. Per judge
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Judge knocks down a Bannon argument that House violated its own rules in its operation of Jan 6 Committee. Judge will defer to US House on its own interpretation of its own rules.
Bannon’s court motions are getting knocked down one by one.
2:05 PM · Jul 11, 2022
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Jul 11, 2022
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Judge knocks down a Bannon argument that House violated its own rules in its operation of Jan 6 Committee. Judge will defer to US House on its own interpretation of its own rules.
Bannon’s court motions are getting knocked down one by one.
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Judge says he will NOT prevent Bannon from questioning or cross-examining “political bias” of witnesses. But he says he expects attorneys to be mindful of the “fine line” of doing so
2:11 PM · Jul 11, 2022
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Jul 11, 2022
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Judge says he will NOT prevent Bannon from questioning or cross-examining “political bias” of witnesses. But he says he expects attorneys to be mindful of the “fine line” of doing so
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And judge rejects Bannon’s motion seeking Justice Dept paperwork on its decision to decline Contempt of Congress prosecutions against Mark Meadows and Dan Scavino. “Internal work product”… judge calls it
2:15 PM · Jul 11, 2022
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Jul 11, 2022
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And judge rejects Bannon’s motion seeking Justice Dept paperwork on its decision to decline Contempt of Congress prosecutions against Mark Meadows and Dan Scavino. “Internal work product”… judge calls it
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Judge knocks down subpoena by Bannon against US House Jan 6 Cmte members at trial. “Barred by speech or debate clause”
2:18 PM · Jul 11, 2022
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Jul 11, 2022
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Judge knocks down subpoena by Bannon against US House Jan 6 Cmte members at trial. “Barred by speech or debate clause”
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Bannon is losing a lot of motions right now
2:18 PM · Jul 11, 2022
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Jul 11, 2022
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Bannon is losing a lot of motions right now
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Now judge is considering Bannon’s request to delay trial. Due to publicity and Bannon’s alleged agreement to testify
2:21 PM · Jul 11, 2022
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Jul 11, 2022
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Now judge is considering Bannon’s request to delay trial. Due to publicity and Bannon’s alleged agreement to testify
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Judge recommends using jury selection process to find fair jury… to address Bannon’s concerns. And if jury selection process fails… Bannon motion can be revisited
The “publicity” is gonna prevent the seating of a fair jury argument… is failing time and again in Jan 6 cases
2:22 PM · Jul 11, 2022
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Jul 11, 2022
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Judge recommends using jury selection process to find fair jury… to address Bannon’s concerns. And if jury selection process fails… Bannon motion can be revisited
The “publicity” is gonna prevent the seating of a fair jury argument… is failing time and again in Jan 6 cases
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Next pretrial hearing is set for Thursday.
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Jul 11, 2022
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Next pretrial hearing is set for Thursday.
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Bannon defense lawyer David Schoen asks judge rhetorically … “What’s the point of going to trial if there are no defenses?”
2:26 PM · Jul 11, 2022
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Jul 11, 2022
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Bannon defense lawyer David Schoen asks judge rhetorically … “What’s the point of going to trial if there are no defenses?”
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Series of defeats in court for Steve Bannon just now. He didn’t show up in-person to witness it.
2:32 PM · Jul 11, 2022
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Jul 11, 2022
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Series of defeats in court for Steve Bannon just now. He didn’t show up in-person to witness it.
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Big wins for:
1) US Justice Dept
2) House Select January 6th Committee
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..... 3) The Legislative branch of the U.S. government
4:11 PM · Jul 11, 2022
= new reply since forum marked as read
When he goes to Prison. YAY!
and since I heard McFarlane on the radio answering questions from the local news radio station here, I went searching for more from him and found his "play-by-play" of what was going on in the hearing! 