Judge rejects Bannon request to delay trial until October
Federal prosecutors told a court they could try their case against Steve Bannon in one day, but the former White House strategist's attorneys want to delay a possible trial for nearly a year.
Bannon was indicted last month on a contempt of Congress charge, after he defied a subpoena in the Jan. 6 investigation, and prosecutors said Monday in a court filing the case "very straightforward" and would need only one day of testimony, while defense attorneys estimated they would need about 10 days -- and asked for an October start date.
"In our view, this is not the average criminal case on the docket – because it will take more time to obtain discovery, and more time to fully brief the issues," defense lawyers said in the filing.
Prosecutors asked the court to set an April trial date, but the judge said that was too ambitious and the defense request was too late.
The judge set a July 18 start date for a trial expected to last up to two weeks.
ALERT: Judge says Bannon\u2019s proposal for October 2022 trial is too slow. And Feds pursuit of April 2022 trial is too ambitious. (Especially considering the Jan 6 criminal case backlogs at DC federal court)\n\nJudge to consider July 2022 trial. Two weeks long— Scott MacFarlane (@Scott MacFarlane) 1638896205
