You 'cannot ignore Congress': Adam Kinzinger hopes Steve Bannon's indictment sends a clear message

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) has shared his reaction to Steven Bannon's indictment and the message he hopes it sends to others who fail to comply with the House committee conducting the investigation into the insurrection on the U.S. Capitol.

On Friday, November 12, Bannon, who worked briefly as a White House adviser to former President Donald Trump, was indicted by a federal grand jury on "two charges of contempt of Congress for failing to appear for an Oct. 14 deposition before the panel and for refusing to provide documents."

Speaking to CNN's Jake Tapper by phone, Kinzinger, who is one of the only two Republican lawmakers serving on the Jan. 6 committee, weighed in on the "reality" of Bannon's situation. According to Kinzinger, Bannon's indicmtment sends a very clear message: You "cannot ignore Congress."

"The reality is, you may not like it--- you may not like the investigation. You may think nothing wrong was done, but you're not going to be able to avoid it," Kinzinger said. "So, this is certainly a good thing and I hope it sends a chilling message to anybody else who was going to follow through like this."

Bannon was previously subpoenaed because the panel was attempting to investigate his possible involement in the planning of the "Save America" rally that took place on the White House Ellipse shortly before the insurrection on the Captiol. Trump's former White House advisor's indictment came shortly after former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows also failed to appear for his deposition.

Although many of Trump's allies have adamantly refused to comply, Kinzinger has made it clear that the panel is only seeking answers.

"We just want answers, that's what the American people deserve, regardless of what side of the political spectrum they're on," Kinzinger told Tapper. "And most importantly that is what the future history deserve: a full accounting of that day free of conspiracies, free of lies and free of politics."