Update: CNN reports that Bannon has struck a deal with Mueller to avoid grand jury testimony and instead meet with Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his team for an interview. Furthermore, Bannon will answer questions about his stint in the White House because executive privilege would not apply, he said.
Just in: Steve Bannon struck a deal with special counsel Robert Mueller’s team and will be interviewed by prosecutors instead of testifying before the grand jury, a person familiar with the process said (via @KaraScannell)
— David Wright (@DavidWright_CNN) January 17, 2018
* * *
Tuesday was a difficult day for former White House Strategist Steve Bannon, who has seen his political influence and reputation as a “kingmaker” evaporate since the first excerpts of Michael Wolff’s book “Fire and Fury” were published earlier this year.
Bannon endured 10 hours of testimony before the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday while refusing to answer any questions about his time in the White House or the transition, per the White House’s orders. The New York Times also reported that he had been served with a subpoena last week to testify before the grand jury in special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian collusion after refusing the offer of an informal interview.
Today, NBC News has reported some new details about Bannon’s legal situation that underscore the difficult situation the former Breitbart executive, who was ousted by the Mercer family as his political allies chafed at some of his more self-aggrandizing comments.
Bannon’s subpoena, as it turns out, was hand-delivered by FBI agents who showed up at his home last week to deliver the subpoena and discuss the Russia probe with Bannon. However, the agents were unaware that Bannon had retained counsel just hours before their visit, and subsequently redirected the subpoena to Bannon’s lawyer...
FBI agents showed up at Steve Bannon’s Washington home last week intent on serving him with a subpoena to appear before a grand jury investigating possible ties between President Donald Trump's campaign and Russia, according to a source familiar with the proceedings.
The agents were unaware at the time that Bannon had retained Washington lawyer William Burck just hours earlier, according to two people familiar with the events that took place on Jan. 9. Once redirected, the agents sent the order to Burck, who is also representing two other witnesses in the probe being led by special counsel Robert Mueller, a former director of the FBI.
Bannon, who served as President Donald Trump’s chief strategist until he departed the White House in August, could end up being interviewed by Mueller’s team before the end of the month, according to one source who agreed to discuss the matter on the condition of anonymity.
Bannon is expected to be more forthcoming with Mueller’s team. “He’ll answer any questions” Mueller wants, one source close to Bannon told NBC News.
Rep. Mike Conway, R-Texas, who leads the House Intelligence Committee, said the committee’s subpoena remains in effect and described the interview as in “recess.” It was not clear whether Bannon would appear again before the committee, though Rep. Eric Swalwall, D-Calif., indicated late Tuesday that he was hopeful Bannon would return Thursday.
It’s believed the Mueller subpoenaed Bannon to thwart any attempt by the White House to silence him. Bannon reportedly told Wolff that Trump probably did meet Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya when she visited the White House in June 2016 for a meeting with Donald Trump Jr., Paul Manafort and Jared Kushner. Trump has previously denied knowing anything about the meeting.
The subpoena compels Bannon to testify before a grand jury, skipping the voluntary interview with Mueller's team that many in Trump's orbit have elected to take. But Mueller may still leave open the option for an interview in lieu of grand jury testimony. Bannon is likely to accept such an option if it is made available, according to a source close to Bannon.
Three people familiar with the special counsel’s investigation suggested Mueller moved to subpoena Bannon, rather than ask him to voluntarily appear for questioning, in order to thwart any potential attempt by the White House to pressure Bannon into refusing to cooperate.
Bannon revealed he’d been subpoenaed by the grand jury when he met with lawmakers Tuesday behind closed doors on Capitol Hill, where he was questioned for more than 10 hours.
William Burck, Bannon’s lawyer, is also representing White House Counsel Don McGahn and Trump’s former chief of staff, Reince Priebus, both of who have met with Mueller late last year.
While the White House has dismissed much of Wolff’s book as a fiction, and journalists and observers have pointed out many inconsistencies, Trump’s reaction to Bannon’s reported comments - he’s currently suing his former employee - has fueled speculation that at least the president believes that some of the reported remarks are true.
Now, the question is what will Bannon tell the Grand Jury? Could he possibly provide the long-sought “smoking gun” that will definitively prove that Trump campaign officials actively worked with the Russian government to sway the election?
After more than a year of fruitless searching, that scenario seems unlikely.
Comments
well that was a kick in the ol cunt.. did Bannon say ouch?
You mean they didn't kick down his door, trash his place, and shoot his dog?
This is a perjury setup. The FBI has every text, email, and phone conversation from Bannon, and there's no way he can remember 3 years of conversations verbatim.
In reply to well that was a kick in the… by Dilluminati
I'm still undecided whether this Bannon stuff is real or 4D chess. I'll be looking at what he says to try to figure it out. My gut says it's chess but it's occasionally wrong. My gut also says Mueller isn't a bad guy, at least not now. He's part of the chess match for sure if it is really being played. He and Bannon will do nothing that harms Trump. They're just giving something for the left to salivate over while the Deep State is being rolled up. Today's a big day.
In reply to You mean they didn't kick… by duo
Sorry but your gut gets a down arrow for thinking that Mueller is not a bad guy.
Seriously?
He is one of the elite members of the Clinton protective guards.
In reply to I'm still undecided whether… by DeadFred
Mueller is a vermin who has diddlysquat.
A swamp Guardian appointed by Comey after his own tail caught fire.
Who very well may be looking at time himself over his Uranium 1 involvement. Humiliation at the very least.
Are you not entertained ???
Too fucking right we are !!!
More popcorn please.
In reply to Sorry but your gut gets a… by BarkingCat
Law 15 from The 48 Laws of Power: "Crush Your Enemy Totally"
http://48laws-of-power.blogspot.de/2011/05/law-15-crush-your-enemy-tota…
In reply to Mueller is a vermin who has… by CuttingEdge
Bannon should have just crumpled up the subpoena and thrown it in the agent's face, and said I am busy that day. Isn't that what Dems do when they get subpoenaed to testify???
In reply to Law 15 from The 48 Laws of… by Klassenfeind
So by doing the same ole same ole, how exactly does that drain the swamp ?
It would seem that continuing the behavior of the previous administration would just be skimming the swamp so that new algae can flourish ?
In reply to Bannon should have just… by Shitonya Serfs
that's because there is no attempt at justice. not at this level.
no one will prosecute anyone. they (both) serve a better purpose of being targets of mud slinging. the goal is not justice. the goal is making the other look bad for the upcoming election.
in mueller's case this is just data mining for 2020.
In reply to So by doing the same ole… by curbjob
Bannon doesn't have to say shit to Mueller. Did Lois Lerner talk? No, she just pled the 5th. Bannon can just do the same or (contrary to CNN's statement) Trump can tell him not to talk for executive privilege. Obama did it all the time with WH staff.
In more serious news, Drudge is reporting that a story about Trump having an affair with a 23 yo intern was just pulled by Newsweek. Is it because it is false or is it still coming out??
CORRECTION: Opps. I think drudge is posting his headline about Bill Clinton on the 20th anniversary - not a Trump affair.
In reply to So by doing the same ole… by curbjob
aka, "meet with Meuller and his team of Clinton lawyers...."
Bannon should make a citizen's arrest while he has him in hand.
In reply to Bannon doesn't have to say… by IH8OBAMA
Uh, that affair was Bill and Monica.
In reply to Bannon doesn't have to say… by IH8OBAMA
Bannon seems very much subject to his emotional moves.
"The act of kanly was originally created as a way of allowing bitter disputes to be resolved without any harm being brought upon innocent bystanders. It was similar in many ways to the ancient duels made on Earth, although it usually had much broader ramifications. Kanly (kanli) is a Turkish word meaning sworn enemy (bloody, from the stem kan, blood). This animosity continued from father to son, until the last child was dead or the two families made peace."
Not very evolved for someone who is touted as a "Strategist"
In reply to Bannon doesn't have to say… by IH8OBAMA
There is no 'there' there. Mueller will get nothing of value from Bannon. Bannon correctly read the tea leaves in the congressional hearing. The interviewing committee would have taken anything he said and turned it into political theater with two objectives: either take down Trump or destroy Bannon. (Can you imagine him saying to a Congressional panel that he popped off because he was pissed and what he said was bullshit? They'd roast him). He'll talk with Mueller about everything becasue its behind closed doors away from the prying press.
This is another big fucking nothing burger.
In reply to Bannon should have just… by Shitonya Serfs
This is Mueller's and Dem's "last chance saloon", "final kick at the can",
for RussiaGate.
2/
and with Trump giving a Pardon to all the big banks, his prezidency, and life, are preserved.
3/
Can't say the same for Obama's administration, incl Obozo himself.
--The popcorn is out, waiting to see what happens from here on out.--
In reply to Sorry but your gut gets a… by BarkingCat
4D Chess doesn't exist.
Trump is very smart but not Keyser Söze smart. No one is Keyser Söze smart, except other fictional characters like Mr. Spock and Francis Underwood. And Keyser Söze.
Stop with the 4D chess. It's stupifying.
In reply to I'm still undecided whether… by DeadFred
exactly....4D chess only exists if you already know the outcome.....and have read the book before the movie comes out.
In reply to 4D Chess doesn't exist… by Samuel Culper
If Sessons were doing his job, he would be indicting Comey, Strozk, Lisa Page, etc.
In reply to exactly....4D chess only… by spastic_colon
Sesh who?
In reply to If Sessons were doing his… by 847328_3527
Who wrote this article?? Am I the only one who sees the multiple errors in it?
In reply to I'm still undecided whether… by DeadFred
They aren't errors but artfully constructed misstatements by the propagandists to create a picture in ones head of the nefariousness of the Russians and Trump.
Imagine a meeting in the people's White House of Russian agents and the POTUS! My God we need a coup!!!
(ohh wait, it wasn't in the WH? I don't care. I have to hate him and will continue to hate him no matter the actual evidence. It's psych-ops shit they are pulling and not many can catch it.)
In reply to Who wrote this article?? Am… by TrajanOptimus
Ding ding ding!
+1
In reply to They aren't errors but… by ATM
For all the money the Tylers reap off of the stupid ads here, they should at least hire an editor/fact checker. ZH appears to be moving toward even more amateur posts every week. Yep, it's turned into yet another click-bait web site.
In reply to Who wrote this article?? Am… by TrajanOptimus
Click bait , schmick bait. Actually, schumk bait you are if NoScript you do not use.
I installed NoScript the first day on this site and I have never seen any bullshit advertisements. Therefore I do not help them get their fucking clicks. Get NoScript or stop talking about click fucking bait.
In reply to For all the money the Tylers… by DonFromWyoming
The real chess pieces are the mostly underemployed American voters.
In reply to I'm still undecided whether… by DeadFred
It's two goblins striking a deal in a dark cave. How do you not see that?
In reply to I'm still undecided whether… by DeadFred
I gave it some thought and along the lines of fourth turning..
I think Bannon is a 4th and Trump a 3rd
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/08/us/politics/bannon-fourth-turning.ht…
and to get a better feel for that (wiki has the quick on it)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strauss%E2%80%93Howe_generational_theory
or
http://www.fourthturning.com/
So Bannon I think wants a crisis where Trump is trying to fix things
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strauss%E2%80%93Howe_generational_theory#…
ergo: Bannon is a cunt
In reply to I'm still undecided whether… by DeadFred
Bannon will spill his guts and will get caught in a lie. Dumbfuckess he is.
In reply to I gave it some thought and… by Dilluminati
If your chess pieces are dirty, then yes, Mueller is part of the chess match. Hitler was a bad guy, said everyone around him, and his dog loved him too.
Mueller is dirty but is caught between a lie and a hard place.
In reply to I'm still undecided whether… by DeadFred
My gut tells me that Mueller is a totally owned and controlled puppet. The deep state game seems to be to do anything to keep the narrative alive that Russia EVIL and anyone wanting rapprochement or fair dealing with thAT nation is a TRAITOR.
In reply to I'm still undecided whether… by DeadFred
Two dimensional is tough enough. This is a bit easier than chess, with the military aspect merged with slapstick. You don't castle in this one, you shithole. There are clues all over, because the pretend bad guys, the good guys, and the pretend good guys, the bad guys, all know the score. Can you imagine Bannon, no matter how drunk, thinking of Trump Junior as treasonous? Trump and Putin shook hands in a meeting at the side of some conference in Vietnam not too long ago. It was over in a few seconds. Look for a high definition clip of that. Putin is one of the toughest guys on the planet. See the unalloyed delight on his face for a fraction of a second. Trump said a few kind words about Kim a few days ago, and then took it all back the next day. But the work was done. Kim probably had to know that his back channel could be trusted. Sure Trump looks like a clumsy asshole, but North and South Korea will be sending a joint team to the Olympics.
In reply to I'm still undecided whether… by DeadFred
Muellers private Gestapo in big on terrorizing people in their homes.
In reply to You mean they didn't kick… by duo
All of them appear to be working for the Clinton Foundation.
In reply to Muellers private Gestapo in… by d edwards
WTF are they gonna hand deliver Pedo Bill and Hildacunt's arrest warrants????
In reply to All of them appear to be… by BorraChoom
The FBI let two of their agents get killed after the Boston Marathon false flag.
https://pilotonline.com/news/article_d074851a-7fa9-55cf-97af-ebf533c7e9…
https://pilotonline.com/news/government/politics/nation/article_7b08721…
http://www.policemag.com/channel/careers-training/news/2013/05/19/fbi-h…
Maybe during investigations they found out too much and since they were not bad guys they had to be eliminated.
So they were sent on some stupid training exercise at sea.
Yeah -- the FBI was sent on a training exercise at sea.
They were both in a helicopter and the assignment was that they had to rappel down the ropes to the ship beneath them.
Then when the two of them were on the same rope it snapped and the both fell to their deaths in the water.
If the FBI allows that to happen to their own agents they have no reason to exist and collect tax funded paychecks.
For that kind of behavior they can join organized crime.
In reply to WTF are they gonna hand… by sodbuster
You are absolutely right, this was a set up. How about those cunt FBI starting working on the multitude of crimes that Hillary and crew have committed? Did anyone ever see even one agent give a shit about going to get her to commit perjury? They didn't even record her or put her under oath when they interviewed her. These fucking traitorous cunts are doing the bidding of the deep state. WTF is wrong with these people?
In reply to You mean they didn't kick… by duo
The FBI has always been dirty- the foundation being built by that dirtbag Hoover.
It's just now completely out in the open. Well, of course, excepting the anachronistic MSM's FBI.
In reply to You are absolutely right,… by chubbar
And most striking of all was the FBI never asked a follow up question to her patently nebulous responses. It was just so obvious that the deal had been cut ahead of time.
In reply to You are absolutely right,… by chubbar
It's called the fifth. If he doesn't invoke it, he is a fucking pussy and a retard.
In reply to You mean they didn't kick… by duo
Yep, because the meeting was totally legal.
That Russian hoe lobbied both parties and Bongos State Department personally intervened to let her overstay her visa.
All of these charges so far are procedural and completely unrelated to the supposed "collusion" they are alleging. Meanwhile using foreign opp research isn't even illegal anyway. The Democrats did it twice during the election.
In reply to You mean they didn't kick… by duo
Hahahahahaha. Can't wait.
In reply to You mean they didn't kick… by duo
Can't wait for him to spill the beans on Kushner and the Mercers.
In reply to You mean they didn't kick… by duo
This is stupid, he has nothing to gain by talking to them. He's a target and as such, should just plead the fifth. Does his counsel really think that he'll be able to talk to them and everything will go away? It's so apparent that a blind man could see this...Mueller is laying a trap for Bannon to perjure himself.
In reply to You mean they didn't kick… by duo
The appropriate response: Sir considering the fallibility of memory and knowing that you have records of everything I have said or written over the last half century I must cloak myself in the 5th Amendment and decline to answer any of your questions.
In reply to well that was a kick in the… by Dilluminati
You are an fucking ignorant asshole. The 5th is our most important right when dealing with law enforcement. I hope you are on the wrong side of that equation one day, and you DON'T cloak yourself, and you spend some hard time in prison as a bitch.
In reply to The appropriate response: … by Cloud9.5
Wishing misfortune on others...
Triggered much?
In reply to You are an fucking ignorant… by HominyTwin
Always.
In reply to Wishing misfortune on others… by Anonymous_Bene…
My friend I spent a decade working in a prison as a teacher and a classification officer. I have had more private conversations with rapists and serial killers than you can imagine. I have hunted men as a part of my job assignment. I well acquainted with prisons.
I have personally presented the FBI with hard evidence of violations of USC 18:1014 only to have them tell me that my initial loss of a quarter of a million dollars stemming from this crime was not important enough for them to investigate at this time due to their involvement in stopping the drug trafficking in South Florida. I was told politely to go pound sand while the exact same crime resulted in the imprisonment of a felon in South Florida U.S. v. Bush. Their refusal to even investigate this crime told me pretty much all I needed to know about the FBI. In as much as this case involved a regional bank and a prominent citizen in my community I am not surprised they declined to investigate.
The fact that individuals have been investigated for major crimes such as insider trading only to be arrested and convicted for lying to the FBI proves that talking to the FBI is incredibly dangerous. The body of federal and state law fills libraries. More than likely you have broken laws you don’t even know about. You might want to do some reading. http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/10/you-break-the-law-every-day-without-even-knowing-it.html
In reply to You are an fucking ignorant… by HominyTwin
Charging and convicting Martha Stewart tells you everything you want to know about our corrupt FBI.
They can cherry-pick around any criminal activity depending on what is in it for the FBI.
Clearly, the Praetorian Guard around Obama/Hillary are out of their minds over losing to Trump. And they will do anything, anything to overturn the election.
In reply to My friend I spent a decade… by Cloud9.5
Think it's much more than losing an election that is producing endless bizarre behavior.
There are things they apparently will go to all sorts of extremes to keep things to themselves.
Now the question is WHAT are they hiding.
In reply to Charging and convicting… by Kayman
Pagination