Multiple news outlets reported on the fact that former Trump strategist Steve Bannon had changed his mind. He wrote a letter to Bannon in the wake of former President Donald Trump’s decision. In it, he said that he would not invoke executive privilege and that Bannon could speak freely.
Bannon had been denying for months that he would appear before the partisan panel. His lawyer Robert Costello wrote Saturday that Bannon is willing and able to testify at the public hearing.
The committee has been criticized for not allowing the five Republicans chosen by Kevin McCarthy to serve. Nancy Pelosi instead put Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney and Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger onto the committee. This is a long-standing tradition. Nancy Pelosi instead put Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney (rabid anti-Trumpers) and Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger on the committee.
Bannon was given the go-ahead to testify in the letter Saturday from his former boss, Trump.
Trump’s letter to Bannon.
The Legend writes the Honey Badger… pic.twitter.com/7EwriUIm3S
— Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) July 10, 2022
Trump first sympathizes with the ordeal Bannon has endured:
When you first received the Subpoena to testify and provide documents, I invoked Executive Privilege. 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, and out of respect for the Office of the President.
He then goes on to formally agree to forgo executive privilege:
Therefore, if you reach an agreement on a time and place for your testimony, I will waive Executive Privilege for you, which allows for you to go in and testify truthfully and fairly, 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. It is a partisan Kangaroo Court. 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?
What can the committee gain from Bannon’s performance? According to NBC, he was in the administration for only seven months.
According to the panel, he was at a Washington hotel meeting one day prior to the insurrection. Trump supporters met there to discuss possible ways to reverse it. They wanted to know more about the December 30 phone conversation between Bannon and Trump, in which Bannon is alleged to have encouraged Trump’s focus on Jan. 6.
Zoe Lofgren, a California representative, said she hopes to hear from him.
Adam Schiff must have been laughing so hard that it’s impossible to contain his joy.
Yes, Bannon can be a passionate, outspoken Trump fan. These are not crimes.
If Steve Bannon ever actually does testify at the Jan 6, make it pay per view. I’ll be tailgating early.
— Buzz Patterson (@BuzzPatterson) July 10, 2022
I believe the committee will again come up with a big fat nothing burger. This will mostly show that Bannon looks like an unmade mattress but little else.
