Bannon Trial to Proceed as Scheduled

On Thursday, a federal judge revealed that the trial of Steve Bannon over criminal contempt could begin next week. The judge also said that the extensive media coverage of the Bannon trial must not become a barrier in choosing an unbiased jury to hear the said case.

Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols rejected a bid made by Bannon’s attorneys to delay the trial, which was scheduled to start on Monday with jury selection. Nichols made a similar ruling on Thursday, setting aside the concerns put forward by Bannon’s attorneys regarding a CNN report that is scheduled to air the night before the trial and what they claim were prejudicial comments made this week at a House committee hearing that probe into the Capitol Riot on Jan. 6. 2021/

“I am cognizant of current concerns about publicity and bias and whether we can seat a jury that is going to be appropriate and fair, but as I said before, I believe the appropriate course is to go through the voir dire process,” Nichols stated, pertaining to the individual jurors’ questioning prior to their selection. “And I have every intention of getting a jury that is going to be appropriate, fair and unbiased.”

In Washington’s federal court, former Pres. Donald Trump’s one-time advisor is facing charges for defying a subpoena from the Jan. 6 committee that is seeking his records and testimony. Back in November, Bannon was indicted on two counts of criminal contempt of Congress, a month after the Department of Justice received a congressional referral.

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