Jessica Schneider at CNN is reporting that a federal grand jury has handed down an indictment for Steve Bannon. Prosecutors reportedly presented the indictment along with an arrest warrant to a federal judge on Friday afternoon. 

The need to empanel a federal grand jury would definitely explain where a lot of the time went since Bannon’s citation was referred by the House. 

Friday, Nov 12, 2021 · 9:16:13 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

An arraignment date reportedly has not yet been set for Bannon’s appearance before the U.S. District Court which will hear this case. The two charges each carry a minimum of 30 days, with a potential maximum of 1 year and a fine of $1,000. 

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Friday, Nov 12, 2021 · 9:20:35 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Friday, Nov 12, 2021 · 9:23:20 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

A number of outlets continue to report that litigating the case over Bannon “could take months or years.” Which is absolutely true. However, his arrest might also go a long way toward making other witnesses weigh whether that’s how they want to spend the next few years of their lives.

Friday, Nov 12, 2021 · 9:29:15 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

In what’s likely no coincidence at all, members the House Select Committee, have issued a new statement on Mark Meadow’s failure to appear this morning.

Don’t be surprised if Jeffery Clark also gets a poke with a sharp stick.

Friday, Nov 12, 2021 · 9:32:07 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Friday, Nov 12, 2021 · 9:39:15 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Politico reports that Bannon’s case was assigned to Judge Carl Nichols, who is a Trump appointee.

Friday, Nov 12, 2021 · 9:51:37 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

Reviewing Judge Nichols’ past cases, it seems he’s been pretty even handed in past rulings that involved Trump’s inner circle. He rejected a request from Sidney Powell to dismiss the defamation lawsuit by Dominion and ruled that he didn’t have the jurisdiction to order the state of New York to halt their attempts to obtain Trump’s tax records.

Friday, Nov 12, 2021 · 10:03:28 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News at this hour. One of these things, is not like the other, one of these things doesn’t really … inform their viewers of what’s happening in the real world.

Friday, Nov 12, 2021 · 10:09:07 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

I want to believe the whole thing about giving Bannon until Monday before he has to turn himself in, involves folks sitting around, pretending to read newspapers with eye holes in them, at every airport gate within a 100 mile radius.

NPR now has a story up on the indictment. Bannon is facing two charges of contempt, one for his failure to testify, another for his failure to turn over requested documents.

Attorney General Merrick Garland has issued a statement: