Former Trump adviser Bannon pleaded not guilty to obstructing the congressional investigation on Jan. 6

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (Reuters) – Former President Donald Trump’s longtime adviser Steve Bannon on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to criminal charges he opposed a congressional subpoena from a U.S. House panel investigating in the deadly riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, according to court documents.

Bannon, who made his first appearance in federal court on Monday, was indicted last week by a federal grand jury on two counts of contempt in Congress.

Bannon vowed to fight the congressional subpoena, telling reporters outside the courthouse on Monday that he believes the prosecution was a politically motivated attack against him by President Joe Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland and House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

He is scheduled to be filed in court on Thursday, but has agreed to waive his right to a formal reading of the indictment, according to court documents filed Wednesday.

He is still expected to participate Thursday in a virtual status conference hearing the case before U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols.

The U.S. House of Representatives, led by Democrats, voted in Oct. 21 to contempt Bannon, leaving it to the Justice Department, headed by Garland, to decide on any cases.

A Republican, Trump sought to stonewall the House committee and ordered his colleagues not to cooperate, claiming a former president had the right to keep requested material confidential under a legal doctrine called executive privilege.

Bannon, a prominent figure in right-wing media circles, was an architect of Trump’s 2016 presidential victory and served as White House chief strategist in 2017.

He faces a contempt count for refusing to appear for a deposition on the House Select Committee and one second for refusing to present documents.

Contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison along with a fine of up to $ 100,000.

In a fiery speech before the riot, Trump told followers to “fight like hell.” Four people died in the riot. A Capitol Police officer who was attacked by protesters died a day later and four officers took their own lives. About 140 officers were injured.

Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Edited by Howard Goller

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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