According to the committee, the committee on the attack on the US Capitol is now expecting a statement from the former chief strategist of then American President Donald Trump, Steve Bannon.

Committee member Zoe Lofgren told CNN on Sunday that a letter was received from Bannon's lawyer during the night saying his client would testify.

"The committee obviously hasn't had a chance to discuss this, but I expect we'll hear from him and we have a lot of questions for him."

Bannon is among Trump advisers who allegedly pressed the former president to prevent the tallying of the electoral college vote and confirmation of Joe Biden's victory in the Jan. 6 presidential election in the Capitol.

"We believe Mr. Bannon has valuable information for our investigation," committee chair Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, said in October.

“He himself had warned that 'all hell' would break loose on January 6th.

He is clearly an important witness.”

Trump probably lifted Bannon's privilege of office

CNN, citing a letter Trump sent to Bannon, reported that Trump had revoked his official privilege, which prevented Bannon from speaking on government affairs.

From the point of view of the committee of inquiry, however, the privilege had not exempted Bannon from the obligation to appear before the panel anyway.

Bannon was charged with contempt of Congress last November for ignoring a subpoena from the committee.

He was also accused of failing to provide requested documents.

The judge released Bannon conditionally pending a verdict.

He is scheduled to appear in court again on July 18.

It is not clear how his decision to testify will affect the criminal case.

Panel vice chair Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican, said in October that Bannon's public statements suggested that "he must have known about and possibly had a hand in the planning of everything that transpired that day." “.

It is also unclear when and under what circumstances Bannon could testify.

The committee of inquiry will hold its next public meeting this Tuesday.

Former White House counsel under President Trump, Pat Cipollone, testified behind closed doors on Friday.

Public or non-public hearing?

Costello said Bannon is willing, and would prefer, to testify at a public hearing.

Lofgren, on the other hand, cautioned that Bannon's testimony, at least initially, is unlikely to be public.

"We usually do secondments," Lofgren said.

"We want all of our questions answered, and you can't do that in a live format."

On January 6, 2021, Trump supporters violently stormed the seat of parliament in the capital Washington.

Congress met there to certify the victory of Trump's Democratic challenger Joe Biden in the previous presidential election.

Five people were killed in the riots, including a police officer.

Trump had recently incited his supporters at a rally that his election victory had been stolen.

The committee is investigating the attack.