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2021-12-02 Government Corruption
Steve Bannon's Jan. 6 Legal Strategy: ‘Blowing Up the Whole System' BURN IT DOWN
[Daily Beast] Steve Bannon
...former investment banker, Breitbart co-founder, former Hollywood film producer, US Navy lieutenant, chief executive of Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, etc...
—the right-wing media personality turned adviser to Donald Trump turned right-wing media personality again—became the first person in nearly 40 years to be indicted on a charge of criminal contempt of Congress last month after he refused to cooperate with the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection. Now, Bannon appears to be using his criminal case to go after the committee that went after him.

Bannon is attempting to force investigators to potentially expose who they’ve talked to and what they’ve said, peek into secret communications on the committee, and create a playbook for other resistant witnesses, according to several legal experts.

"There's no cost to opposing Congress if you can give Congress a black eye for even daring to ask you questions," said Kel McClanahan, an attorney who specializes in national security matters.

As Bannon faces criminal charges, he’s entitled to the evidence against him. And in a typical galaxy-brain, Bannon countergambit, Trump’s former senior adviser is trying to make some of that evidence public.

According to a Sunday night court filing by federal prosecutors, that includes secret witness interviews by law enforcement and internal communications between House committee staff members. The Justice Department claims this material that, were it exposed to the public, would cause "specific harms" like "witness tampering" or making it impossible to find impartial jurors at a future trial.

In a court filing on Tuesday, Bannon’s lawyers said the government’s argument was "festooned with hyperbole... perhaps designed to score points with the media." That same day, a "press coalition" of 15 news organizations—including Buzzfeed, CNN, and The Washington Post—sided with Bannon and asked the judge overseeing the case to make documents available and reject what it called "this broad gag order."

But while most press coverage of this fight has hinged on the accusation that Bannon is trying to turn this into a media circus or spectacle, some legal scholars say the real intention is to harm the investigation itself. One called it "graymail," a legal defense tactic that’s tantamount to blackmail and has since been outlawed.
Posted by Besoeker 2021-12-02 10:29|| || Front Page|| [24 views ]  Top

#1 I knew he would not go quietly. This will be the misdemeanor from hell. Good for him! Wen the Daily Beast is unhappy, I am happy.
Posted by Besoeker 2021-12-02 10:34||   2021-12-02 10:34|| Front Page Top

#2 Evven people who aren't lawyers know that rule one is "Never ask a question you don't already know the answer to." Also, "Never open a can of worms. You will need a much bigger can to re-can them."
Posted by M. Murcek 2021-12-02 10:38||   2021-12-02 10:38|| Front Page Top

#3 It seems Bannon is trying to construct a competing circus, something to compete with the DC Schiff-fest.
Posted by Bobby 2021-12-02 11:48||   2021-12-02 11:48|| Front Page Top

#4 Popcorn!
Posted by Merrick Ferret 2021-12-02 11:56||   2021-12-02 11:56|| Front Page Top

#5 One called it "graymail," a legal defense tactic that’s tantamount to blackmail and has since been outlawed

Outlawed, huh? You mean defense by facts and discovery? I know he doesn't get teh actual discovery he would in a criminal case, but he can certainly make statements and requests they'll have to deny/turn down "for security reasons", such as "how many FBI agents were undercover fomenting the disruption? I hear at least 50!"
Posted by Frank G 2021-12-02 12:15||   2021-12-02 12:15|| Front Page Top

#6 One called it "graymail," a legal defense tactic that’s tantamount to blackmail and has since been outlawed.

In what country? ISTR the government has declined prosecutions when the evidence could expose sufficiently important secrets.

Posted by Rob Crawford 2021-12-02 12:27||   2021-12-02 12:27|| Front Page Top

#7 Mr. Bannon’s Wikipedia page makes fascinating reading.
Posted by trailing wife 2021-12-02 15:45||   2021-12-02 15:45|| Front Page Top

#8 As Bannon faces criminal charges, he’s entitled to the evidence against him.

A good strategy though most Americans are in contempt of Congress.
Posted by JohnQC 2021-12-02 16:02||   2021-12-02 16:02|| Front Page Top

#9 ^ & v-v.
Posted by Merrick Ferret 2021-12-02 16:06||   2021-12-02 16:06|| Front Page Top

#10 When I heard he had been indicted for "contempt of Congress", I thought "If they could read my mind, I would be in BIG trouble".
Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2021-12-02 18:31||   2021-12-02 18:31|| Front Page Top

17:15 NoMoreBS
16:55 Bobby
16:43 Gromble+Dribble4342
16:40 Gromble+Dribble4342
16:39 M. Murcek
16:37 M. Murcek
16:21 Grom the reflective
16:13 Skidmark
15:48 Skidmark
15:44 AlmostAnonymous5839
15:43 Skidmark
15:42 M. Murcek
15:40 Skidmark
15:36 Skidmark
15:32 Skidmark
15:29 Skidmark
15:28 M. Murcek
15:27 Skidmark
15:26 Skidmark
15:25 trailing wife
15:22 M. Murcek
15:12 SteveS
15:06 Seeking Cure For Ignorance
14:39 Seeking Cure For Ignorance









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