Chinanews.com, October 22nd report. On the 21st local time, the U.S. House of Representatives voted with 229 votes in favor and 202 votes against, agreeing to criminalize contempt of Congress against former President Trump’s long-time ally and assistant Bannon. The accusation was due to his ignorance of the subpoena from the Special Committee on the Investigation of the Congressional Disturbance on January 6.

Data map: Police are on guard at the square on the west side of the American Club Building.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Chen Mengtong

　　According to reports, after the House of Representatives voted, the matter will be transferred to the Federal Attorney’s Office in Washington, where the prosecutor now decides whether to submit the case to a grand jury for possible criminal prosecution.

　　On January 6, members of the Congressional Disturbance Investigation Special Committee stated that they will punish anyone who does not cooperate with the investigation promptly and forcefully.

　　"We will not allow anyone to sabotage our work, because our work is too important." Democratic chairman of the committee and Congressman Benny Thompson of Mississippi said before the vote.

　　Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming Congress and Representative Adam Kinsinger of Illinois Congress are the only two Republicans on the committee.

Both men publicly criticized Trump and his role in inciting congressional riots.

　　After Bannon missed the scheduled meeting of the special committee last week, the committee voted 9-0 on the 19th to recommend to the whole house that Bannon contempted Congress on the grounds that a letter from Trump’s lawyer instructed Bannon not to answer. problem.

　　The committee pointed out that Bannon was not working at the White House when the attack occurred, and that he not only talked to Trump before the attack, but also promoted the protests on his podcast and predicted unrest.

　　The members of the committee also stated that only Bannon completely ignored his subpoenas, while at least a dozen other witnesses who had been summoned were negotiating with them.

　　Despite the demands of the Democrats to take action, there is still considerable uncertainty as to whether the Justice Department will prosecute.

The decision of the Department of Justice will not only determine the validity of the House of Representatives investigation, but also determine the strength of Congress’s power to summon witnesses and request information.

　　However, the Department of Justice has always been reluctant to use its power to prosecute witnesses who flout Congress.

Attorney General Garland did not give any hint as to whether he would prosecute or not at the House hearing on the 21st.

　　However, even if the Justice Department decides to prosecute, the case may take several years to complete, and the result may be after the 2022 midterm elections, when Republicans may have won back control of the House of Representatives and ended the investigation.

　　If the Department of Justice does not prosecute, the House of Representatives has other options, including civil litigation.

This may take years, but it will force Bannon and any other witnesses to defend themselves in court.