House GOP Plans Legal Move Against Jan. 6 Committee in Steve Bannon Case

4 months ago 7

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Speaker Mike Johnson announced Wednesday that House Republican leaders voted to file an amicus brief in Steve Bannon’s case, just days before the conservative media host is due to report to prison.

Leadership’s move comes amid of a flurry of activity in the House to challenge the authority of the Jan. 6 committee established by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2021. Bannon’s four-month prison sentence—for failing to comply with committee subpoenas—is set to start July 1. Former Trump administration adviser Peter Navarro is already serving his four-month prison sentence.

“The Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group voted 3-2 to file a brief with the D.C. Circuit in the case against Steve Bannon,” Johnson, R-La., said in a joint statement with Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn. “The amicus brief will be submitted after Bannon files a petition for rehearing en banc and will be in support of neither party. It will withdraw certain arguments made by the House earlier in the litigation about the organization of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol during the prior Congress.

“House Republican Leadership continues to believe Speaker Pelosi abused her authority when organizing the Select Committee,” the GOP leaders added.

As she was forming the committee in July 2021, Pelosi rejected then-Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s choice of Reps. Jim Banks, R-Ind., and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, to serve as the GOP’s representatives. As a result of Pelosi’s decision, McCarthy refused to let Republicans participate in the “sham process.” Pelosi opted instead to select then-Reps. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill.