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 House select committee probing the Jan. 6. assault on the Capitol is biased.
Schoen said he has a right to seek evidence about the conduct of the committee because it’s led by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, who sued former President Donald Trump for allegedly conspiring with far-right groups to incite the attack. Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, dropped the lawsuit in July to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
