Bannon Loses Bid to Delay Contempt of Congress Trial

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A federal judge on July 11 declined Steve Bannonโ€™s request to delay his contempt of Congress trial, dismissing the former Trump adviserโ€™s reasoning that publicity around the closely-watched trial would make it difficult for a jury to be impartial.

โ€œI see no reason for extending this case any longer,โ€ said U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, after an hours-long hearing in federal court. He would reconsider granting a delay only if it proves impossible to select an unbiased jury, he said.

The Trump-appointed judge at the hearing dealt Bannon a series of setbacks as the latter prepares to face the July 18 trial, for criminal contempt charges for defying a House Jan. 6 Committee subpoena last fall.

Bannon was barred by Nichols from asserting multiple defenses, including his request to raise executive privilege and to subpoena House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and several other members of the Jan. 6 panel.

Bannonโ€™s lawyers would also not be able to argue that the House committee violated rules in summoning Bannon to the stand. Instead, the Bannon teamโ€™s defenses are limited mainly to whether Bannon understood or was able to meet the deadlines for the House committee demands.

Nicholsโ€™ rulings left one of Bannonโ€™s attorneys to question whether the 68-year-old could defend himself at all.

โ€œWhatโ€™s the point of going to trial here if there are no defenses?โ€ David Schoen, a lawyer representing Bannon, asked in frustration as he sought clarification from Nichols.

To which Nichols answered: โ€œAgreed.โ€

Bannon didnโ€™t appear at the court hearing. Speaking to reporters later outside the courthouse, Schoen indicated that they would appeal.

โ€œHeโ€™s the judge,โ€ he said of Nichols. โ€œThatโ€™s why they have a court of appeals.โ€

โ€˜Eleventh Hour Effortsโ€™

Nicholsโ€™ ruling came one day after Bannon agreed to testify in public before the Jan. 6 Committee after receiving a letter from former President Donald Trump waiving executive privilege over Bannonโ€™s testimony.

Byย Eva Fu

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