No the members of the committee didn’t make themselves witness. The speech and debate clause does protect them from being witnesses. The speech and debate clause is right in point to because their testimony relates to the decision to issue a subpoena and to the legislative process. Can you call a judge who signs a subpoena or search warrant in a contempt case? Can you call a grand juror in a contempt case for ignoring s grand jury subpoena? And what relevant evidence do the members of the committee have? Btw: I don’t listen to Toobin. I am a real lawyer in my Spare time when I am not posting on Too Hot. So, again, what legal defense (not a proposed defense that is not recognized in law) did the Judge disallow?
Sloppy Steve thinks now is a good time to go on TV and make threats to the Jan. 6 committee. Like I've said and will continue to say: MAGA is a mental illness.
You have raised excellent points, ones that should convince TJgators that he is simply wrong. BUT, one of the hardest things for us to do is admit we were wrong. It’s next to impossible when our opinion is hardened in partisan politics like a fossil in amber. We all do it to one extent or another, but it’s really beyond the pale to argue Bannon didn’t get a fair trial. For him not to have taken the stand and to have then complained to the press afterwards shows what he was really up to. Were I the judge, I’d give him the max on each count but make them concurrent, i.e., one year prison. It’s imperative that a strong message be sent about complying with subpoenas.
I have not followed the trial closely enough (jury instructions, etc). But, i did follow his proposed defenses. He ignored a valid subpoena. And he made statement publicly he was ignoring it. His self serving post-conduct, right before trial, attempt to offer the committee conditions and argue that this shows lack willful intent is going nowhere. As are his arguments he wanted to call the members of the committee.
UPDATE: Bannon issues warning to Jan. 6 committee hours after contempt conviction This shows what a POS he is. I don’t like calling someone that, but he’s a cynic who knows exactly what he’s doing, which is riling up those who wrongly think he got railroaded. He’s harming the country in self-aggrandizement.
With each statement, He is buying himself 2 years in jail without a supersedeas bond. And nobody pardon him in that time. And his appeal will take time. Wasn’t really smart threatening the staffers. But, he has announced what is planned by the GOP once they take control of the House. These are demagogues who are anti-democratic. Meanwhile, Trump is holding rallies and drawing big crowds of believers. This is Weimar Republic 1930s stuff. Nobody believed what would happen later. Listen to their words. And when people tell you they will vote GOP because nobody cares about the hearings, believe them. They will gladly give up democracy to have a government in their image.
I find this so shocking. I shouldn’t be given our history of slavery and the strong opposition to civil rights reform by the same segment of the population which now rallies behind Trump. The reference to the Weimar Republic is apt.
We can go the other way, but it will take leadership from the minority party. Which won’t happen because it is drunk with power and Trump candidates are winning primaries most everywhere. With exceptions. The time for respect for the supporters and enablers of the Trumpers is over. When the GOP takes the House (and will because it is gerrymandered) what do you think is going to happen?
