On Friday, a federal appeals panel of three judges upheld the conviction of former presidential aide Stephen K. Bannon for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House committee investigating January 6th. Bannon had been found guilty of ignoring the subpoena but appealed, arguing he received poor legal advice.
Bannon’s refusal to testify before the committee and testify against President Trump has fueled debates around the extent of Congress’s subpoena power and the potential consequences for those who resist such demands.
While Bannon’s lawyers contended the subpoena was invalid, the federal court ruled otherwise, signaling the judiciary’s stance on congressional oversight authority and the gravity of defying legislative subpoenas.
Despite some leftist activists portraying the ruling as a victory, Bannon still has options to pursue further appeals, including to the full appeals court and potentially the Supreme Court.
Following the ruling, Bannon’s legal team issued a statement explaining his position and intentions going forward. Bannon himself, according to several souces, said “go f**k yourself, we are gonna win” after the decision.