Special counsel Robert Mueller issued a subpoena to former White House adviser Steve Bannon last week, calling on him to testify before a grand jury, the New York Times reported Tuesday, citing an unnamed person familiar with the matter.
Mueller will likely let Bannon skip a grand jury testimony if the former Trump adviser agrees to sit for a less formal interview with Mueller’s team in their offices, the person familiar with the matter told the New York Times.
As the New York Times noted, Bannon does not appear to have much firsthand knowledge of the main incidents Mueller would be interested in for the Russia probe. However, as a one-time member of Trump’s inner circle, Bannon likely has information on some of the wheelings and dealings of the Trump team that could prove useful to Mueller’s team.
Bannon also sat for an interview with the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday as part of the committee’s Russia probe.
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Get ready for some singing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-OteAgvINchehehehehe
Life comes at you fast.
So the question is, Why? Greg Sargent thinks it has to do with the Comey and Flynn firings and hence obstruction of justice. But would he need a subpoena to get him to testify on that? Josh notes that Bannon has always made a point of distancing himself from the Russia scandal. Still there is the role of Cambridge Analytica. I suspect this is the focus, though I suppose it could be wishful thinking.
Three possibilities here:
My money is on “2.” Lawyers have to issue these kind of CYA subpoenas all the time–usually because there’s an NDA or an employment agreement with an “unless you’re subpoened” exception clause, so the witness can get out of work, or because the witness is scared of being seen to be cooperating.