Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) voted to hold Stephen K. Bannon in contempt of Congress for failure to comply with a congressional subpoena. The subpoena, which was issued by the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, required Mr. Bannon to produce both documents and testimony relevant to the attack on our democracy. Mr. Bannon failed to do both.

“Steve Bannon appears to have played a multi-faceted role in the events of the January 6th attack. The American people are entitled to hear his testimony,” said Rep. Sewell. “His refusal to comply with a congressional subpoena is completely unacceptable and demonstrates that he believes he is above the law.”

“Today’s vote shows that the United States House of Representatives will not be intimidated or deterred,” continued Sewell. “We have a responsibility to get to the bottom of this horrific attack in order to prevent future threats to our democracy, and that is exactly what we will do.”

Mr. Bannon reportedly had multiple roles relevant to the investigation of the January 6th attack on the Capitol, including: 

• His role in constructing and participating in the “stop the steal” public relations effort that motivated the January 6th attack
• His efforts to plan political and other activity in advance of January 6th
• His participation in a “war room” of promoters and prominent supporters of the “stop the steal” movement that met on January 5th
• His communications with President Trump several times in advance of the January 6th attack, exhorting him to take measures to interfere with the count of electoral votes and to make January 6th a day of reckoning

On September 23, 2021, Chairman Bennie Thompson signed and transmitted a subpoena to Mr. Bannon, ordering the production of documents on October 7 and requiring his presence for deposition testimony on October 14. Mr. Bannon defied the subpoena – failing to produce the documents on October 7 and failing to show up for the deposition on October 14.

Today’s resolution, which passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 229-202, provides that the Speaker of the House shall certify the report of the Select Committee detailing the refusal of Stephen K. Bannon to produce documents or appear for a deposition before the Select Committee as directed by subpoena, to the United States Attorney General for the District of Columbia, to the end that Mr. Bannon be proceeded against in the manner and form provided by law. It provides that the Speaker of the House shall otherwise take all appropriate action to enforce the subpoena.