US Capitol violence: House committee votes to recommend ex-Trump advisor Steve Bannon’s prosecution

A United States House committee, investigating the January 6 Capitol riots, on Tuesday voted to hold former White House aide Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress after he ignored summons to testify before the panel, AP reported.

The committee unanimously approved the contempt of Congress citation, The Guardian reported. The panel will on Thursday approach the court to punish Bannon for ignoring the summons.

“It is essential that we get Mr Bannon’s factual and complete testimony in order to get a full accounting of the violence of January 6th and its causes,” said Bennie Thompson, the chairman of the select committee.

If the contempt charges are proven in the court, Bannon would have to serve one year in federal prison, or pay a fine of $1,00,000 (or Rs 74 lakh approximately) or both.

On January 6, hundreds of supporters of former US President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol complex in Washington DC. They clashed with the police as members of the Congress met to certify the results of the 2020 presidential elections, which Democrat Joe Biden won. Five people died in the violence. At least 68 were arrested.

The committee said that Bannon, who was also the former advisor to Trump, had multiple roles relevant to the investigation of the Capitol riots, AP reported. He was allegedly…

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