Former White House counsel John Dean explained why it is so important for the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. to interview Steve Bannon.
Dean, who was disbarred after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice in the Watergate scandal that drove Richard Nixon from office, offered his analysis in an interview with CNN’s Jim Acosta.
“I think we have to be careful about what inferences we draw from non-appearance or non-testimony but, I think Bannon is up to his eyeballs,” Dean said. “I think he’s a vital witness.”
“I think he could lead to Trump or those closest to trump and I do believe that the indications are that Trump is much more involved in this whole thing than we think he was,” Dean said.
“Do you think this committee will ultimately get access to the documents and testimony they want and if so, by the time the next election rolls around?” Acosta asked. “Every cynic in Washington is just shaking their heads and saying no.”
“Well, it’s a good question,” Dean replied. ‘Trump has been as good a president as any to obfuscate and delay and do it with some success. I don’t have a crystal ball as to how this is going to come out.”
“I think this committee is determined. I hope, Jim, they get their act together and use the power they do this, which is inherent contempt powers. In 1934, the Senate sent the sergeant at arms down to get an assistant secretary of commerce and put him in jail, put him in the Willard [Hotel] for ten days until he agreed to cooperate. That’s still good law,” he explained. There’s Supreme court rulings back as early as 1821 that the House could do this. I think they should and I think they should do it next week, if you will.”
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