Steve Bannon: Former Trump strategist taken into custody on contempt charges

Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon has been taken into federal custody on contempt charges.

It comes just three days after he was indicted by a federal grand jury on contempt of congress charges relating to his failure to cooperate with the inquiry into the storming of the Capitol on January 6.

Bannon, 67, was charged with one count of contempt of Congress involving his refusal to appear for a deposition and another involving his refusal to produce documents, the Justice Department said.

Contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $100,000.

Prior to entering a Washington court on Monday morning, Bannon delivered a speech to his supporters via livestream. “I don’t want anybody to take their eye off the ball of what we do every day,” he said.

“We’re taking down the Biden regime every day.”

The indictment claims that Bannon failed to communicate with the committee in any way from the time he received the subpoena on September 24 until October 7 when his lawyer sent a letter, seven hours after the documents were due.

It came as a second expected witness, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, defied his own subpoena from the committee on Friday.

If the House votes to hold Mr Meadows in contempt, that recommendation would also be sent to the Justice Department for a possible indictment. Criminal indictments for contempt are exceedingly rare in US politics.

Last month, the Democratic-led chamber voted 229 to 202, with nine Republicans joining Democrats to recommend the charges against Mr Bannon.

More than 670 people have been charged in connection with the Capitol insurrection, the worst attack on the US government building since the War of 1812.

Four people died on the day of the riot and hundreds of police officers were injured as demonstrators stormed the building.

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