Bannon trial set for July 18 in Capitolriot contempt case

WASHINGTON — Former Trump campaign chairman Steve Bannon is set to go on trial in July on criminal contempt charges over his refusal to cooperate with the congressional investigation into the U.S. Capitol riot, a judge ruled.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols said Tuesday a two-week trial in Washington will begin with jury selection July 18, months earlier than the October start sought by Bannon. The judge rejected what he called the government’s request for a “light speed” trial in April.

Bannon’s lawyer David Schoen had argued he needed more time to prepare a wide array of defenses, including that the grand jury that handed down the indictment was given bad instructions on the law and that the House select committee probing the Jan. 6. assault on the Capitol is biased.

Bannon was indicted in November on two counts of contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas from the House Jan. 6 select committee seeking his testimony and production of documents. The charges are misdemeanors that each carry a maximum sentence of one year in prison.