Trump lashes out on Steve Bannon’s indictment, fears further measures

Steve Bannon’s indictment by United States authorities earlier this week triggered a denouncement from former President Donald Trump, a long-time ally of the political strategist.

He said in a statement on Sunday, “This country has perhaps never done to anyone what they have done to Steve Bannon and they are looking to do it to others, also.”

Read More: Steve Bannon case: Republican lawmakers who voted in favour of contempt

Bannon was indicted on two counts of criminal contempt of the United States Congress after he defied a subpoena from the House of Representatives committee, which is investigating the violent January 6 insurrection at the Capitol complex in Washington DC.

The Department of Justice said earlier this week that the 67-year-old was indicted on one count for refusing to appear for a deposition last month and one count for refusing to provide documents in response to the committee’s subpoena. Each count carries a minimum of 30 days of jail and as long as a year behind bars.

The second part of Trump’s statement, which was released on Twitter by his Deputy Director of Communications Margo Martin, referred to the possibility of former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows getting similar treatment as Bannon. Meadows also refused to comply with the subpoena from the January 6 committee.

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If the House votes to hold Meadows in contempt, that recommendation travel to the Department of Justice for a possible indictment.

The chairman of the January 6 committee, Representative Bennie Thompson, told reporters at an event in his home state Friday that he will recommend contempt charges against Meadows this coming week, according to reports from Associated Press.

Also Read: US House January 6 committee issues 10 subpoenas to Donald Trump’s inner circle

Bannon and Meadows are key witnesses for the committee because they both were in close touch with Trump around the time of the insurrection.

Meadows was Trump’s top aide at the end of his Presidential term and was one of several people who pressured state officials to try and overturn the results of the 2020 election.