Bannon refuses to answer questions about his time in government
FORMER White House chief strategist Steve Bannon refused to answer a broad array of queries from the House Intelligence Committee about his time working for President Donald Trump on Tuesday, provoking a subpoena from the panel’s Republican chairman.
The development brought to the forefront questions about White House efforts to control what the former adviser tells Congress about his time in Mr Trump’s inner circle and whether Republicans on Capitol Hill would force the issue in light of the newly issued subpoena from the Republican-controlled panel.
The congressional subpoena came the same day The New York Times reported that Mr Bannon – a former far-right media executive and recently scorned political adversary of the president’s – has been subpoenaed by special counsel Robert Mueller to testify before a federal grand jury. With the issuing of Mr Mueller’s subpoena, Mr Bannon became the highest-ranking person who served in the Trump White House to be called before a grand jury.
Committee members grilled Mr Bannon as part of their investigation into Russian election inference, and also wanted answers from him about Mr Trump’s thinking when he fired FBI Director James Comey.
But Mr Bannon refused to answer questions about that crucial period, prompting the committee’s chairman, Devin Nunes of California, to issue the subpoena.
Late on Tuesday, Adam Schiff of California, the top Democrat on the committee, said Mr Bannon’s refusal to answer those questions came at the instruction of the White House.
“This was effectively a gag order by the White House,” Mr Schiff said shortly after Bannon’s interview concluded. He said the committee plans to call Mr Bannon back for a second interview. A spokeswoman for Mr Bannon did not respond to requests for comment.
At the White House, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said “no one” had encouraged Mr Bannon not to be transparent.
“As with all congressional inquiries touching upon the White House, Congress must consult the White House prior to obtaining confidential material. This is part of a judicially recognised process.”