Bannon indicted for contempt over Congress’ Capitol riots inquiry

WASHINGTON:

Steve Bannon

, a longtime ally of former US President Donald Trump, has been indicted on two counts of criminal contempt of Congress after he defied a subpoena from the

House

committee investigating the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol.

On Friday, the US

justice department

said

Bannon

, 67, was indicted on one count for refusing to appear for a deposition last month and the other for refusing to provide documents in response to the committee's subpoena.

He is expected to surrender to authorities on Monday and will appear in court that afternoon, a law enforcement official said.

Attorney General

Merrick Garland

said Bannon’s indictment reflects the justice department’s “steadfast commitment” to the rule of law. Each count carries a minimum of 30 days of jail and as long as a year behind bars. The indictment came as a second expected witness, former

White House

chief of staff

Mark Meadows

, defied his own subpoena from the committee on Friday.