By Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Former Donald Trump advisor Steve Bannon will appear in court Monday for the first criminal charge. This is part of a congressional investigation into the Jan. 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. The charges stem from the refusal to cooperate with the investigation.

Bannon was one of over 30 individuals who were close to Trump’s former Republican president. They have been asked by the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee for testimony about the events leading up to January 6, 2016, when thousands of protestors stormed Capitol Building in an effort to overturn Trump’s defeat.

House investigators are hoping that Bannon’s actions will inspire other witnesses such as Mark Meadows, former Chief of Staff, to give evidence. Bannon declined to give evidence, citing Trump’s insistence – which was already denied by one judge- that he had a right under executive privilege to keep the requested materials confidential.

U.S. Representative Adam Schiff was a Democratic Chair of the House Intelligence Committee. He also served as a Jan. 6 Panel member. Schiff stated that he believed Bannon’s indictment for two counts of “contempt” of Congress would encourage others to give up their resistance.

Schiff stated that “it will have a very strong focusing impact on their decision making,” as he said to NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday.

Federal grand juries indicted Bannon Friday on two counts of contempt for Congress. One for not appearing for depositions and the other for refusing documents to be produced. The Justice Department stated that contempt of Congress can result in up to one-year imprisonment and a $1,000 maximum fine.

According to the Justice Department, Bannon (67) is likely to surrender to Washington law enforcement on Monday. He will then make his first appearance at federal court.

PRIVATE TRUMP PARDON

This is Bannon’s second criminal case in as many months. In August 2020, Trump’s ex-chief strategist was accused of defrauding donors for We Build the Wall. This private fundraising effort was to support the president’s promise to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Before the case was even considered for trial, Trump pardoned Bannon.

Trump tried to block the Jan.6 committee. The Jan.6 committee is looking into Trump’s actions in relation to the riot and has directed his ex-associates not to cooperate.

Trump stated in a statement on Sunday that the United States has “perhaps never done to anybody what Steve Bannon did to them” and is now looking to do so to other countries.

Bannon was indicted just hours after Meadows declined to testify before the committee.

While Schiff reiterated that the committee threatened to bring Meadows to trial for contempt, he said the committee wants the best case possible. He stated, “When witnesses, such as Meadows, decide that they are not going to bother coming up, it pretty much forces us to move fast.”

Bannon was a key adviser for Trump’s 2016 campaign. He helped to articulate Trump’s “America First” right-wing populism, and fierce opposition towards immigration. This helped to define Trump’s presidency.

Bannon is a former Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE): A banker and Navy Veteran who promoted right-wing candidates and causes in the United States, Inc continued to give Trump advice even after he was fired in 2017.

Trump addressed supporters gathered near the White House before the Jan. 6 Riot. He repeated false allegations that the election had been stolen, and encouraged them to “fight like hell” to get to the Capitol.

Multiple court and election officials as well members of Trump’s administration rejected Trump’s claims that massive voter fraud led to his loss.

According to the committee, Bannon has made statements that suggested he was aware of “extreme events” which would take place on January 6. Bannon claimed on January 5 that “all hell will break loose tomorrow.”

G. Gordon Liddy was convicted by a judge in 1974 of being in contempt for Congress. He was a conspirator in Watergate, which led to President Richard Nixon’s resignation.