Was only a matter of time before Trump began throwing supporters under the bus

[quote]Trump released Bannon from the privilege in a Saturday letter to Costello, saying: "If you reach an agreement on a time and place for your testimony, I will waive executive privilege for you, which will allow for you to in and testify truthfully and fairly as per the request of the Unselect Committee of political Thugs and Hacks."[/quote]
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/07/10/steve-bannon-testify-jan-6-committee-trump/10025135002/

Although I wouldn't expect the answer to any relevant question to be other than "The Fifth". But it will get him Steve Bannon out from under the Contempt of Congress charges and an opportunity to repeat the Holy Grail in an opening statement. Was pretty hard for him to claim executive privilege when the White House Counsel managed to find a way to answer the subpoena while honoring both executive privilege and lawyer-client privilege.

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Ynotisay · M

Interesting that he never invoked Executive Privilege but he said he was considering waiving it. Don't understand that move at all. Reality is out the window.

MistyCee

@Ynotisay Reality was out the window with crowd size way back when, realistically, though.

We've had nearly 7 years of alternate facts at this point, and we're still dealing with the problem.

Trump could still likely claim he didnt invoke a privilege (regardless of whether he was legally entitled to invoke it), even after this stunt, and millions of Americans would buy it, which is the real problem, imo.

I'd love it if enough voters saw through this garbage, but I've been living in the upside down long enough to not bank on it.

dancingtongue · 80-89, M

@Ynotisay @MistyCee This is what makes the whole thing smell of a set-up one way or another: Bannon was long gone from the Administration by the period of time leading up to 1/6 events, so Executive Privilege was never an issue. Bannon was using it as an excuse to hide behind, unless the courts ruled against him or Trump waived it. He was losing in court, so Trump waives it -- although it was never an option -- to "allow him" to fulfill the subpoena. Why? The only logical reason for Bannon is to justify his delay in upholding the subpoena and get the Contempt of Congress charges lifted. Why for Trump? Because he knows the questions will be about Bannon's role in organizing and promoting the crowds on 1/6 and it provides insurance should Bannon actually have some info on direct contact with Stone, Meadows, and others actually working for Trump. He's counting on Bannon taking the Fifth or committing perjury, but if not he can now claim "jeez, would I have ever waived Executive Privilege if I had know this was going on?" and throw them all under the bus. Even though anything Bannon was doing during the period under question was never under Executive Privilege to begin with.

MistyCee

@dancingtongue [quote]Why for Trump?
[/quote]

I agree, but I think you may be over thinking Trump here.

Not that what you say doesn't make sense, but I'm not sure Trump thinks that many steps ahead, because as you pointed out, he doesn't really need to.

I think he's hanging onto his "I can shoot someone on Fifth Avenue" angle here, rather really trying to craft a defense.

Ynotisay · M

@dancingtongue You're right. It's all about Bannon trying to delay his trial for criminal contempt as long as possible. Must really suck for him that a judge shot that down today. But Trump getting involved? That says something. And you might be right.