Steve Bannon, the former adviser to former President Donald Trump, wants to testify before the American committee investigating the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021. This is apparent from a letter that Bannon’s lawyer had sent to the committee, the news channel reports CNN† Bannon previously refused to testify.
The commission wants to show that the storming of the Capitol was coordinated by then US President Donald Trump and those around him. The attack is said to be aimed at thwarting Congressional nomination of Joe Biden as the new president of the United States.
Last month, the committee began a series of public hearings. The Commission of Inquiry previously said it sees Bannon as an important witness. He warned on January 6 that “all hell is going to break loose”.
Trump thinks Bannon’s testimony can counterbalance
But Bannon refused to testify. That decision resulted in him being prosecuted for contempt of parliament. Bannon invoked the immunity that advisers to the president would have. That means they don’t have to talk about confidential matters.
On Sunday, Bannon’s lawyer released a letter from Trump. In it, the former president writes that the confidentiality no longer applies to Bannon. He can now testify.
Trump would have been concerned about the (in his view) one-sided and biased way in which the Commission of Inquiry works. Bannon could counterbalance this, according to the former president.
Bannon’s contempt of parliament trial is scheduled for July 18. However, it is not clear what his willingness to testify means for the trial.
The investigators want to learn more this week about links between militant groups involved in the storm and government officials, Democratic committee member Zoe Lofgren said.
Events of January 6, 2021 in brief:
- Supporters of then-President Donald Trump hold a protest march in Washington, because Trump claims (without evidence) that election fraud has been committed.
- Thousands of protesters march to the Capitol after Trump’s appeal. At that time, Congress confirms that Joe Biden is the new president.
- The demonstrators soon manage to break into the building. The police are completely taken by surprise.
- Four people are killed during the storm. Among the dead are a police officer who succumbs to a heart attack and a protester who is shot dead by the police. 138 officers are injured.
- In the aftermath of the storm, four agents take their own lives.
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