Bye Bye Bannon! Fed Judge Rejects Delay in Trial and Exec Privilege Claim

A federal judge on Monday refused to delay Stephen K. Bannon’s trial next week after the Justice Department called an offer by the former Trump aide to testify before the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection a “last-ditch attempt to avoid accountability” on charges of criminal contempt of Congress.

“I see no reason for extending this case any longer,” U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols said in rejecting a host of Bannon’s defenses after a hearing, including his contention that Donald Trump had claimed executive privilege over his testimony and documents. The judge narrowed Bannon’s defenses at trial mainly to whether he understood the deadlines for answering lawmakers’ demands.

“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,” Nichols said, adding that he found it “unlikely” the court would be unable to find unbiased jurors.

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