Trump Judge Refuses To Delay Bannon’s Contempt Trial

USA Today reports:

A federal judge Monday refused to delay the criminal contempt trial of former White House strategist Steve Bannon after the Trump adviser’s weekend agreement to testify before the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack.

“I see no reason for extending this case any further,” said U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, paving the way for the case to open next week. Prosecutors had cast Bannon’s new willingness to testify before the same House committee he had defied as a stunt to improve his chances at trial.

“His actions are little more than an attempt to change the optics of his contempt on the eve of trial, not an actual effort at compliance,” prosecutors said in court documents prior to Monday’s court hearing.

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Judge Nichols also rules for DOJ that he cannot present as evidence that he relied on advice of counsel, and that he cannot present as evidence the DOJ office of legal counsel memos on executive privilege

— Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) July 11, 2022

Gaston notes Bannon’s move comes on eve of trial and would encourage gamesmanship on part of witnesses. G: ‘That’s a different kind of contempt and obstruction and sort of validating it would not serve the purpose of the statute.’

— Josh Gerstein (@joshgerstein) July 11, 2022

There are now four district court judges who have ruled that the Jan. 6 committee is legitimate (and none who have ruled otherwise). Two of them were Trump appointees (Kelly/Nichols).

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) July 11, 2022