DOJ Seeks Phone, Email Records Of Bannon’s Lawyer

The Washington Post reports:

The Justice Department has sought phone and email records of a defense attorney who represented Stephen K. Bannon, the former adviser to President Donald Trump, in his dealings with a House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riots and his subsequent indictment for contempt of Congress, his defense said.

Bannon’s team decried the collection of Robert J. Costello’s records, saying it may have violated attorney-client privilege, a bedrock principle of U.S. legal practice that says a lawyer must keep confidential what they are told by their clients.

The House committee referred Bannon for prosecution in October after he refused to appear pursuant to a Sept. 23 subpoena, and he was charged by indictment on Nov. 12.

Read the full article.

Report says DOJ has obtained email and phone records from Bannon’s lawyer. This is a big deal at DOJ. Requires high-level approval and findings that the evidence is not protected by privilege, is essential to the case, and cannot be otherwise obtained. https://t.co/uRsxQdVCIY

— Barb McQuade (@BarbMcQuade) February 7, 2022