WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. federal grand jury has indicted Steve Bannon, onetime adviser to former President Donald Trump, charging him with contempt of Congress after he defied a subpoena by the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, the Justice Department announced Friday.
The indictment came as Attorney General Merrick Garland has been under pressure to prosecute Bannon after the House voted on Oct. 27 to hold the former chief strategist of Trump in criminal contempt of Congress and referred the resolution to the Justice Department.
"Since my first day in office, I have promised Justice Department employees that together we would show the American people by word and deed that the department adheres to the rule of law, follows the facts and the law and pursues equal justice under the law," Garland said in a statement. "Today's charges reflect the department's steadfast commitment to these principles."
Bannon's indictment contained two charges of contempt of Congress, according to the Justice Department, "one contempt count involving his refusal to appear for a deposition and another involving his refusal to produce documents, despite a subpoena from the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol."
Each count of contempt of Congress carries a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of one year in jail, as well as a fine of 100 U.S. dollars to 1,000 dollars, the department said, adding a federal district court judge will determine any sentence. Enditem
