Special counsel Robert Mueller calls the former White House adviser to court
Photo courtesy of Evan Vucci | Steve Bannon, former executive chairman of Brietbart News and former White House Chief Strategist, was subpoenaed by Robert Mueller as a part of the investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign team and Russia. Bannon served for seven months in his political position.
Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon was subpoenaed by special counsel Robert Mueller on Tuesday.
Bannon is expected to testify before a grand jury. This is the first time Mueller has used a grand jury subpoena to get information from a former inner-circle member of President Donald Trump in the special investigation, according to The New York Times.
The committee spearheaded by Mueller was formed to investigate possible Russian interference as well as collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election season. It has been operating since May of 2017 when the Justice Department appointed former FBI Director Mueller to lead the investigation.
Some believe that the official subpoena is simply a bargaining tool to get Bannon to talk, as reported by CNN. It is rumored that the counsel will use this subpoena as a negotiation tool to have Bannon questioned in a less formal setting. Up to this point, he has been uncooperative with investigative efforts, citing executive privilege and refusing to make any comment.
“Although I may think that something might have gone on between (the Trump team) and Russia, I don’t think it was the deciding factor in the final vote,” junior criminal justice major Mike Best said. “It’s been a year-long smear campaign that has showed nothing in return, and I believe it’s a huge waste of time and money.”
The subpoena came after some of Bannon’s comments were released in Michael Wolff’s controversial new book, Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, according to The New York Times. He is quoted as saying a meeting between Donald Trump, Jr., Jared Kushner and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort occurred during which they promised negative information on then-Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. In the book, Bannon calls this exchange “treasonous” and “unpatriotic.”
Bannon has since apologized for speaking out against the Trump administration, but the President has cut ties with his former chief strategist.
Trump has since been quoted as saying Bannon has “lost his mind” and even gave him the nickname of “Sloppy Steve.”
Trump has also publicly threatened to sue Bannon for defamation for his comments in Fire and Fury.
Mueller was appointed after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey. Trump faced much political backlash for Comey’s firing as the FBI’s investigation of contact between the Trump campaign and Russian officials was gaining traction at the time.
By: Riley Head ~A&E Editor~