steve-bannon’s-contempt-of-congress-trial

Steve Bannon’s contempt of Congress trial

Politics
34 min ago

Jury is dismissed for the day, leaving instructions, closing arguments and deliberations for Friday

From CNN’s Tierney Sneed and Katelyn Polantz

Judge Carl Nichols has dismissed the jury for the day, and they therefore will not begin their deliberations before the House select Jan. 6 committee hearing tonight.

Nichols brought the jury in first before dismissing them so that he could explain where the proceedings stood. The proceedings had taken a short recess for the jury to be brought back in before their dismissal.

The jury was sent home as the judge works on some legal decisions that need to happen at the end of the case.

The jurors were told not to consume media tonight — after the prosecutors reminded the judge of the House hearing.

What happens next: This means Bannon’s jury will be instructed on how to consider the case, then hear prosecutors’ and defense closing arguments Friday. After that, they will begin deliberations.

1 hr 49 min ago

Steve Bannon’s defense team rests its case after he declines to testify 

From CNN’s Tierney Sneed and Katelyn Polantz

With they jury in the courtroom, Steve Bannon’s attorney Evan Corcoran announced around 2:30 p.m. ET: “Your honor, the defense rests.”

That concludes the portion of evidence presentation of Bannon’s contempt trial, and leaves the jury with no evidence to hear from the defense side.

Bannon’s team earlier Thursday announced they would not call any witnesses nor would Bannon testify in his own defense. But the jury had not been told, because the attorneys and judge were discussing other legal issues in the case and plans for the procedural steps of the trial that will take place on Friday.

34 min ago

Defense attorney explains why Steve Bannon didn’t testify

From CNN’s Tierney Sneed and Katelyn Polantz

Steve Bannon in federal court on Thursday, July 21.
Steve Bannon in federal court on Thursday, July 21. (Bill Hennessy)

David Schoen, Steve Bannon’s lawyer, told the court Thursday that the former Trump aide did not testify in his own defense because he was unable to use various reasons his attorneys tried to argue in the trial but were not allowed under the law.

“The defendant Mr. Bannon understands he has the right to testify on his own behalf, and he has very much wanted to do so since the day he was indicted,” Schoen said.

However, Bannon would not be able to be “telling the true facts” if he took the stand, Schoen added, citing Bannon’s belief that his lawyer advised him not to testify after former President Donald Trump raised the possibility of asserting executive privilege in a letter to him.

That lawyer for Bannon, Robert Costello, didn’t testify as a defense witness for the same reasons, Schoen said.

Bannon confirmed for the judge that he wouldn’t testify.

“Yes, your honor,” he said, standing halfway up to address the court when asked if he was waiving his right.

2 hr 40 min ago

Here’s a look at the federal courtroom where day 4 of Steve Bannon’s trial is underway

Steve Bannon in federal court on Thursday, July 21. 
Steve Bannon in federal court on Thursday, July 21.  (Bill Hennessy)

Here’s a look at artist Bill Hennessy’s sketch from day four of federal court proceedings during former President Donald Trump aide Steve Bannon’s trial on charges of contempt of Congress.

There are no cameras allowed in the federal courtroom in Washington, DC, but the artist’s sketch provides a glimpse of the events unfolding inside.

The sketch shows defense attorney David Schoen speaking as Bannon sits behind him.

2 hr 58 min ago

Steve Bannon’s defense team lays out why they wanted committee members to testify at trial

From CNN’s Tierney Sneed and Katelyn Polantz

Steve Bannon’s defense attorney David Schoen is currently making arguments for why the former Trump aide’s inability to call Jan. 6 committee members to the stand harmed his defense.

Schoen is going over everything he’d like to ask the select committee Chairman Bennie Thompson: Why was the subpoena necessary? Why were the deadlines what they were? Why didn’t the committee file a civil lawsuit to clear up the executive privilege issues Bannon was raising?

Judge Carl Nichols sounds skeptical, noting that the letters were what the committee was communicating to Bannon.

Nichols asks Schoen: How could what is in Thompson’s head inform Bannon’s mens rea?

3 hr 27 min ago

Proceedings in Steve Bannon’s trial have resumed

The proceedings resumed at 1:06 p.m. ET in the trial of former President Trump aide Steve Bannon.

Bannon, who has pleaded not guilty to contempt charges, will not take the stand, and his team will not present any case to the jury.

3 hr 1 min ago

Here’s what comes next in Steve Bannon’s trial

From CNN’s Tierney Sneed and Katelyn Polantz

Steve Bannon in federal court on Thursday, July 21. 
Steve Bannon in federal court on Thursday, July 21.  (Bill Hennessy)

Steve Bannon’s team announced that they will not put on a defense in his trial where the former President Trump aide is charged for contempt of Congress.

This means that it’s possible that jury deliberations will begin today.

But there are other procedural steps and pending motions that the judge and the parties still have to work through before the proceedings reach that point.

Now that US District Judge Carl Nichols has called a recess, he has instructed the parties to do a final round of discussions about the jury instructions, and they’ll then submit their views to the judge.

When the proceedings resume at 1 p.m. ET, the parties will discuss — without the jury present — what the defense team will get to tell the jury about Bannon’s decision to not testify as well as the lack of testimony from Chair Bennie Thompson or other lawmakers who Bannon’s team attempted to subpoena for trial.

There is also a pending motion related to Bannon’s efforts to get lawmaker testimony at the trial that will be debated then too.

After that point, the proceedings may be at a point to give the jury their instructions and for the parties to deliver their closing arguments. Jury deliberations would be the next step after that.

Some trials have entire mornings or afternoons dedicated to closing arguments. But this trial was short, with only two witnesses. And opening statements took fewer than 40 minutes in total, meaning the closings could be relatively brief as well.

4 hr 57 min ago

Court is in recess

The judge has called a recess until 1 p.m. ET, giving the jury — which has not been called in yet today — time to eat lunch as several bookkeeping matters are worked out.

4 hr 50 min ago

Steve Bannon’s team will not present a defense to the jury

From CNN’s Tierney Sneed and Katelyn Polantz

Steve Bannon arrives at federal court in Washington, DC, on Thursday, July 21.
Steve Bannon arrives at federal court in Washington, DC, on Thursday, July 21. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

Former President Donald Trump aide Steve Bannon’s defense team will not present any case to the jury in a trial where he is charged for contempt of Congress for failing to comply with subpoenas from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, his attorney David Schoen told the court on Thursday.

This also means Bannon himself will not take the stand, and the court may head to closing arguments and jury deliberations as soon as this afternoon.

Remember: Defendants are not required to present a case because the burden is on the Justice Department to prove its charges.

The question of what Bannon’s team might do at this stage has hung over his team for the last four days. His attorneys have protested persistently they had little to no defenses to the charges because of the way the judge set the parameters.

US District Judge Carl Nichols asked Bannon’s legal team their plan for Thursday since the prosecution rested its case Wednesday after two witnesses.

“You’re not intending to put on any evidence to the jury?” Nichols asked.

“Correct, your honor,” Schoen said.

The judge confirmed the jury will hear no more evidence in this case. The jury is not yet convened back in the courtroom Thursday.