For all of the “bombshells” of the January 6th select committee, and with all of the resources and scope at their disposal, the results of their investigation into the attempted insurrection at the Capitol has truly come up empty.
Sure, they’re weaving a wide web of intangible possibilities, and they are certainly making some bold suggestions about the culpability of some rather significant politicians, but they haven’t actually charged anyone with a crime in relation to the events of that day.
Instead, they’re attempting to silence right wing media figurehead Steve Bannon by referring him to the DOJ on contempt charges.
The Justice Department has now made their sentencing suggestion, and it’s a doozy.
The Department of Justice is arguing former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon should be sentenced to six months in prison and fined on contempt of Congress charges after defying orders from the Jan. 6 committee.
“The committee sought documents and testimony from the Defendant relevant to a matter of national importance: the circumstances that led to a violent attack on the Capitol and disruption of the peaceful transfer of power,” prosecutors argued. “In response, the Defendant flouted the Committee’s authority and ignored the subpoena’s demands.”
The requested charges come after a jury convicted Bannon on a pair of contempt of Congress charges in July after he refused to comply with a subpoena from the Jan. 6 committee to sit for questioning. The former White House aide also refused to turn over documents requested by the panel.
Bannon has suggested that he could not testify before the issue of executive privilege was properly adjudicated, but the committee refused to acknowledge his concerns.
