Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has drafted a resolution to rescind subpoenas issued to Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro and declare the January 6th Committee illegitimate.
Bannon, a political commentator and former advisor to President Donald Trump, has been ordered to report to prison on July 1 after being convicted on two counts of refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena. Navarro, Trump’s former economic advisor, was ordered to report to federal prison on March 19 after being convicted of similar charges.
“Why don’t we rescind the Congressional subpoena for Steve Bannon and officially repudiate the J6 committee by a vote of Congress?” Massie asked House Speaker Mike Johnson in a June 6 X post.
In response to a user who urged the Kentucky representative to “go tell him” in person, Massie said Johnson was “not going to do it because it’s a good idea.”
“He has to hear from Americans,” he added. “You can stay on the couch, just pick up your phone and dial.”
Tuesday night, Massie announced his effort had been solidified into a resolution. 🧵 (1/2) Here’s our 5 page Resolution to rescind the subpoena’s issued for Bannon and Navarro and to declare the January 6th committee to have been illegitimate. pic.twitter.com/eM122OZpzy
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 18, 2024
“The Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol was illegitimate,” the resolution states. “The conclusions and findings presented were predetermined due to the committee’s partisan nature [and] the courts should set aside any convictions or commute any sentences stemming from contempt reports issued by the Select Committee.”
The resolution details that then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi refused to include Republican members named by then-House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy on the committee, thereby resulting in “a solely partisan exercise determined to vilify” Trump.
Though the committee was required to include 13 Republicans, only nine were selected, the resolution states.
“For nearly two years, the January 6th Committee presented uncorroborated evidence that fit its narrative with the intent of disgracing President Trump, his advisors, and supporters in an effort to influence future elections,” the document reads.
The draft further claims members of the committee withheld and destroyed information that would have proved Trump did not engage in an alleged insurrection.
“The imprisonment of Peter Navarro and the impending imprisonment of Steve Bannon represents an unprecedented attempt to silence and marginalize political opponents,” according to the document.
The resolution also calls to rescind subpoenas issued to Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows as well as Trump’s former Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Dan Scavino.
“Time is of the essence,” Massie said. “Speaker Johnson should immediately bring this resolution to the floor for a vote!”
The Kentucky congressman noted that the resolution had over 20 cosponsors in the House. Current cosponsors: https://t.co/wTtgH4y74M
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 19, 2024
In May, the Department of Justice asked the court to compel Bannon to begin his four-month prison sentence after the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the 70-year-old’s appeal. Judge Carl Nichols had previously agreed to allow Bannon to remain out of jail during the course of his appeals.
“There is no longer a 'substantial question of law that is likely to result in a reversal or an order for a new trial,'" prosecutors wrote, per ABC News.
In addition to his sentence, Bannon was also fined $6,500.
Navarro, who was convicted of two counts of contempt, is currently serving a four-month jail sentence in Florida. Prosecutors had originally sought a six-month jail sentence. The mandatory minimum sentence for the charge is one month.
“This is not about me,” said Navarro during his televised remarks in March before turning himself in. “One of the big stories is about what is really an unprecedented assault on the constitutional separation of powers and the doctrine of executive privileges. … When I walk in that jail today, the justice system – such as it is – will have done a crippling blow to the constitutional separation of powers.”
Hannah Claire Brimelow contributed to this report
