Special Counsel Robert Mueller reportedly issued a subpoena to former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon last week, just months after former National Security Advisor Mike Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. The subpoena requires Bannon to testify in front of a grand jury, but could change after negotiation with his legal team.
The move marked the first time Mr. Mueller is known to have used a grand jury subpoena to seek information from a member of Mr. Trump’s inner circle. The special counsel’s office has used subpoenas before to seek information on Mr. Trump’s associates and their possible ties to Russia or other foreign governments.
The subpoena could be a negotiating tactic. Mr. Mueller is likely to allow Mr. Bannon to forgo the grand jury appearance if he agrees to instead be questioned by investigators in the less formal setting of the special counsel’s offices.
Bannon is on Capitol Hill today testifying in front of the House Intelligence Committee and has been asked by the White House counsel not to answer questions about his time in the administration after the campaign ended.
Bannon recently became a target after telling author Michael Wolff Donald Trump Jr.'s decision to meet with a Russian lawyer during the campaign was "treasonous."
“Even if you thought that was not treasonous, or unpatriotic, or bad s**t, and I happen to think it’s all of that, you should have called the FBI immediately,” Bannon said.
He has since regretted the comments and has been fired from Breitbart News as part of the fallout.
Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski will also testify in front of the Committee and will maintain the position there was no collusion with Russia on any front during the 2016 presidential election.