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Steve Bannon 'called to testify before grand jury as part of Mueller's Trump-Russia investigation' Steve Bannon 'called to testify before grand jury as part of Mueller's Trump-Russia investigation'
(35 minutes later)
Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has reportedly been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has reportedly been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.
The move marked the first time Mr Mueller had used a grand jury subpoena to compel a Trump team member to testify, according to the New York Times. The Times said Mr Mueller had summoned Mr Bannon last week, citing a person with direct knowledge of the matter.
It is unclear, however, whether Mr Bannon will be forced to testify. The subpoena may be a negotiating tactic to convince Mr Bannon to sit down with Mr Mueller for a less-formal interview in the special counsel's offices.
A grand jury testimony is usually more taxing for the witness, as the entire proceedings are transcribed and the witness is required to answer every question.
Mr Bannon's attorney was not immediately available for comment.
News of the subpeona came as Mr Bannon, who served as the Trump campaign director before his seven-month stint as chief strategist, testified before the House Intelligence committee, which is also probing the campaign's ties to Russia.
It also comes on the heels of a public rift between Mr Bannon and the President, after the former strategist criticised the Trump administration to the author of a tell-all book on the White House. Mr Bannon was quoted in the book, Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, as calling a meeting between Trump campaign staff and a Russian lawyer "treasonous".
Mr Bannon was not present at the meeting, nor during the drafting of the President's misleading statement on this issue – both of which are reportedly of interest to Mr Mueller. He was also no present for the controversial firing of Mr Trump's former FBI director, James Comey.
Mr Trump responded to the book by distancing himself from Mr Bannon, claiming his former top adviser had little to do with the administration or the campaign's victory. Mr Bannon stepped down from his role as chief executive of Breitbart News shortly thereafter.
Mr Bannon was present for several controversial moments in the Trump administration, including the firing of Mr Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, after he misled the Vice President about his dealings with Russia. Even his second-hand knowledge of other events may prove useful to the special counsel, legal experts told the Times.
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