Steve Bannon attorney asks to pull out of contempt situation

Ryan King

July 08, 11:18 AM July 08, 11:18 AM

A law firm for Steve Bannon is asking a courtroom for authorization to withdraw from a felony contempt case, citing worries about whether he could be referred to as as a witness.

Legal professional Robert Costello filed a motion in the U.S. District Court docket for the District of Columbia noting that the court docket has not but determined if he could be identified as as a witness and "reluctantly" tendered his withdrawal ask for. The trial in the case is slated to start out July 18.

STEVE BANNON REQUESTS Trial Delay Due TO JAN. 6 HEARINGS

"I have been co-counsel to Mr. Bannon in the course of these proceedings as nicely as in link with all interactions with the Pick out Committee," he wrote. "Since it seems there will be a trial, and due to the fact it seems that at this position in time I may well be referred to as as a witness, I must reluctantly request the Court docket to grant my ask for."

Bannon is experiencing two contempt of Congress expenses for failing to comply with a subpoena from the House Jan. 6 committee previous yr. Costello has suggested that he could assist Bannon's scenario if he were to show up as a witness.

As his lawyer at the time, Costello was privy to Bannon's interactions with the panel. He indicated that he needs to be called as a witness to protect Bannon, but the courtroom has not given a distinct response about no matter whether that would be permitted.

"If the Courtroom decides to protect against me from testifying, there will be no pathway to tell the Jury about the communications with the Choose Committee or the 3 prosecutors in this situation, who interfered with Mr. Bannon's attorney-customer romantic relationship by trying to change me into a witness from my client by surreptitiously subpoenaing my house, business office immediate line, and cellphone documents," he ongoing.

Just one argument Bannon sought to use for his protection is that he defied the subpoena simply because he was acting on "advice of counsel," but a judge shot down that argument in April.

Every single contempt cost can carry among 30 days and a 12 months in prison, as well as up to a $100,000 fine if convicted. Bannon has pleaded not guilty to the charges in opposition to him and has insisted former President Donald Trump's executive privilege declare barred him from complying with the subpoena. Prosecutors have disputed this, pointing out that he was not a member of the Trump administration at the time of the Capitol riot, the time frame on which the committee is centered.

Final thirty day period, Bannon asked for his demo be delayed right up until October due to the probability of the Jan. 6 committee's general public hearings influencing jurors in the scenario. So much, that ask for has not been granted. Judge Carl Nichols is overseeing the situation.