FILE – Former White House strategist Steve Bannon speaks with reporters after departing federal court on Nov. 15, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
OAN NEWSROOM
UPDATED 5:47 PM PT – Sunday, July 10, 2022
Former Chief White House Strategist Steve Bannon agreed to speak with the January 6 committee after getting permission from Donald Trump. According to reports on Sunday, Bannon will testify before the Democrat committee after Trump waived his executive privilege in a letter sent on Saturday.
“When you first received the Subpoena to testify and provide documents, I invoked executive privilege,” Trump wrote. “However, I watched how unfairly you and others have been treated, having to spend vast amounts of money on legal fees and all of the trauma you must be going through for the love of your country. Therefore, if you reach an agreement on a time and place for your testimony, I will waive executive privilege for you.”
A separate letter from Bannon’s attorneys said the former Trump aide prefers a public hearing before the committee. This after the Democrat-run panel issued a number of subpoenas to top Trump administration officials, which Republicans said are unfair and political.
“This allows for you to go in and testify truthfully and fairly,” he continued. “As per the request of the Unselect Committee of political thugs and hacks who have allowed no due process, no cross-examination and no real Republican members or witnesses to be present or interviewed.”
This letter comes only weeks before Bannon was scheduled to be tried for contempt of Congress for failing to comply with the subpoena in the first place. The Committee has long been seeking to obtain testimony from Bannon since issuing the subpoena in September 2021.
Trump’s letter to Bannon.
The Legend writes the Honey Badger… pic.twitter.com/7EwriUIm3S
— Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) July 10, 2022
“Why should these evil, sinister, and unpatriotic people be allowed to hurt and destroy the lives of so many and cause such great harm to our Country? It has been from the time I came down the escalator at Trump Tower, a political hit job against the overwhelming majority of Americans who support the concept and policy of Making America Great Again and putting America First. Good luck in all of your future endeavors,” the former president concluded.
Bannon was not working with the Trump administration at the time of the Capital riot on January 6. The Committee claimed that Trump’s invocation of executive privilege was invalid. Trump said the January 6 committee is a partisan effort that serves no legislative purpose.