Assault on the Capitol: Steve Bannon changes his tune and will testify

Steve Bannon has “specific information” about the Capitol assault, the committee finds.

Steve Bannon, a former White House strategist and ally of Donald Trump, said he was ready to testify before the committee about the Capitol storming.

He had refused to appear for months, earning him criminal contempt charges.

A podcast recorded the day before the assault where Mr. Bannon could be heard addressing of a possible revolution aroused the suspicions of the committee.

His decision to testify was communicated in a letter from his lawyer last Saturday. Bannon's about-face comes as the committee responsible for shedding light on the events of January 6, 2021 prepares to release some of the most stark revelations against Trump this week.

“We have several questions for him.

—Zoe Lofgren, commissioner and representative of California in the United States Congress

Bannon refused to testify before the commission, arguing that his testimony is protected by executive privilege that Donald Trump has claimed.

The committee believes that this defense is dubious because Trump fired Bannon from the White House in 2017 and was a private citizen under the law when acting as an adviser to the then President at the time occurred the riot of January 6, 2021.

Tuesday's hearing will focus on the preparation and planning of the insurrection by supremacist groups such as the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers and the Three Percenters, and will also highlight testimony gathered on Friday by former White House adviser Pat Cipollone.

As at Bannon's trial on his two criminal charges, it will take place on July 18.

With information from La Presse canadienn e