Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said late Tuesday that former White House strategist Stephen Bannon’s refusal to cooperate with the House committee investigating the Capitol riot suggests former President Trump was “personally involved in the planning and execution of January 6th.”
“Based on the committee’s investigation, it appears that Mr. Bannon had substantial advance knowledge of the plans for Jan. 6 and likely had an important role in formulating those plans. Mr. Bannon was in the war room at the Willard on Jan. 6. He also appears to have detailed knowledge regarding the president’s efforts to sell millions of Americans the fraud that the election was stolen,” Cheney said as the panel voted unanimously to hold Bannon in contempt and refer him to the Justice Department for criminal charges.
Cheney also said that Bannon and Trump’s privilege arguments “do appear to reveal one thing.”
“They suggest that President Trump was personally involved in the planning and execution of Jan. 6,” she said. “And we will get to the bottom of that.”
The committee said Monday that it contacted Bannon’s attorney multiple times seeking information in its investigation but did not receive an answer.
The full House will vote Thursday to hold Bannon in contempt after he refused to provide information despite a congressional subpoena.
Legal experts say the committee might have to pursue a civil suit again Bannon if the Justice Department chooses not to formally charge him.
Cheney has emerged as one of the top Republican critics of Trump.
Ahead of the vote on Tuesday, Trump said in a statement that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was unable to put “real Republicans’ on the panel, “so they got stuck with low-polling warmonger Liz Cheney.”