Demand Congress enforce its own subpoenas

The Supreme Court just cleared the way to dismiss Steve Bannon's criminal contempt conviction — for refusing to testify about January 6th. A jury convicted him. Courts upheld it. Now it's being erased.

Bannon defied a subpoena from the House Select Committee investigating January 6th. His defense: his lawyer told him executive privilege applied, so he didn't have to show up. Two courts rejected that. The Supreme Court just gave him another shot. If this logic holds, any powerful ally can ignore a lawful congressional order and face zero consequences.

Congressional oversight only works if subpoenas mean something. Congress can act right now in two ways:

1. Fix the contempt law. Amend the statute to close the loophole Bannon exploited, require executive privilege claims to be asserted in writing, and expand civil contempt powers so Congress doesn't need a friendly DOJ to enforce its own subpoenas.
   

2. Hold hearings on Bannon's obstruction. Criminal consequences may be off the table — but Congress can still put Bannon's refusal on the public record and make clear what he was hiding about January 6th.

Demand Congress enforce its own subpoenas.

In solidarity,

Action Collective