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Government Corruption
Steve Bannon's Jan. 6 Legal Strategy: ‘Blowing Up the Whole System' BURN IT DOWN
2021-12-02
[Daily Beast] Steve Bannon
...former investment banker, Breitbart co-founder, former Hollywood film producer, US Navy lieutenant, chief executive of Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, etc...
—the right-wing media personality turned adviser to Donald Trump turned right-wing media personality again—became the first person in nearly 40 years to be indicted on a charge of criminal contempt of Congress last month after he refused to cooperate with the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection. Now, Bannon appears to be using his criminal case to go after the committee that went after him.

Bannon is attempting to force investigators to potentially expose who they’ve talked to and what they’ve said, peek into secret communications on the committee, and create a playbook for other resistant witnesses, according to several legal experts.

"There's no cost to opposing Congress if you can give Congress a black eye for even daring to ask you questions," said Kel McClanahan, an attorney who specializes in national security matters.

As Bannon faces criminal charges, he’s entitled to the evidence against him. And in a typical galaxy-brain, Bannon countergambit, Trump’s former senior adviser is trying to make some of that evidence public.

According to a Sunday night court filing by federal prosecutors, that includes secret witness interviews by law enforcement and internal communications between House committee staff members. The Justice Department claims this material that, were it exposed to the public, would cause "specific harms" like "witness tampering" or making it impossible to find impartial jurors at a future trial.

In a court filing on Tuesday, Bannon’s lawyers said the government’s argument was "festooned with hyperbole... perhaps designed to score points with the media." That same day, a "press coalition" of 15 news organizations—including Buzzfeed, CNN, and The Washington Post—sided with Bannon and asked the judge overseeing the case to make documents available and reject what it called "this broad gag order."

But while most press coverage of this fight has hinged on the accusation that Bannon is trying to turn this into a media circus or spectacle, some legal scholars say the real intention is to harm the investigation itself. One called it "graymail," a legal defense tactic that’s tantamount to blackmail and has since been outlawed.
Related:
Steve Bannon: 2021-11-29 DoJ accuses Steve Bannon of 'misleading and frivolous' attempts to turn his prosecution for refusing to testify before January 6 committee into a 'public spectacle'
Steve Bannon: 2021-11-21 FBI conducted violent home raid on America's Mom Founder
Steve Bannon: 2021-11-16 Good Morning
Posted by:Besoeker

#10  When I heard he had been indicted for "contempt of Congress", I thought "If they could read my mind, I would be in BIG trouble".
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia   2021-12-02 18:31  

#9  ^ & v-v.
Posted by: Merrick Ferret   2021-12-02 16:06  

#8  As Bannon faces criminal charges, he’s entitled to the evidence against him.

A good strategy though most Americans are in contempt of Congress.
Posted by: JohnQC   2021-12-02 16:02  

#7  Mr. Bannon’s Wikipedia page makes fascinating reading.
Posted by: trailing wife   2021-12-02 15:45  

#6  One called it "graymail," a legal defense tactic that’s tantamount to blackmail and has since been outlawed.

In what country? ISTR the government has declined prosecutions when the evidence could expose sufficiently important secrets.

Posted by: Rob Crawford   2021-12-02 12:27  

#5  One called it "graymail," a legal defense tactic that’s tantamount to blackmail and has since been outlawed

Outlawed, huh? You mean defense by facts and discovery? I know he doesn't get teh actual discovery he would in a criminal case, but he can certainly make statements and requests they'll have to deny/turn down "for security reasons", such as "how many FBI agents were undercover fomenting the disruption? I hear at least 50!"
Posted by: Frank G   2021-12-02 12:15  

#4  Popcorn!
Posted by: Merrick Ferret   2021-12-02 11:56  

#3  It seems Bannon is trying to construct a competing circus, something to compete with the DC Schiff-fest.
Posted by: Bobby   2021-12-02 11:48  

#2  Evven people who aren't lawyers know that rule one is "Never ask a question you don't already know the answer to." Also, "Never open a can of worms. You will need a much bigger can to re-can them."
Posted by: M. Murcek   2021-12-02 10:38  

#1  I knew he would not go quietly. This will be the misdemeanor from hell. Good for him! Wen the Daily Beast is unhappy, I am happy.
Posted by: Besoeker   2021-12-02 10:34  

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