Congress
The Republican leaders voted to make their determination the formal position of the House.
Steve Bannon addresses a crowd of conservative activists at the 2023 Conservative Political Action Conference. The pro-Trump firebrand has been sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of Congress, but is fighting to stay out of prison as he appeals. | Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
By Betsy Woodruff Swan, Olivia Beavers, Jordain Carney and Kyle Cheney
06/25/2024 11:27 PM EDT
Updated: 06/26/2024 08:45 AM EDT
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Speaker Mike Johnson and other House GOP leaders voted Tuesday to reject the previous Congress’ handling of the Jan. 6 select committee, a last-minute effort to boost Steve Bannon’s appeal from his 2022 conviction for defying a subpoena from the panel.
The Republican leaders voted to make their determination the formal position of the House, allowing them to file a legal brief on behalf of the chamber, according to three people familiar with a party-line, secret vote that was first reported by POLITICO. They were granted anonymity to discuss that vote of the House’s bipartisan leadership group that sets its formal legal positions.
The move comes as the Supreme Court nears a decision on whether to allow Bannon to go to jail on July 1 or remain free while he appeals his conviction. The Justice Department is due to file a brief with the high court Wednesday urging Bannon’s immediate jailing. Chief Justice John Roberts may decide the matter as soon as Wednesday afternoon or may refer it to........