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Bannon 'stonewalled' congressmen during committee hearing Trump-Russia: Steve Bannon questioned in Mueller inquiry
(about 5 hours later)
President Trump's former chief adviser, Steve Bannon, has refused to answer a range of questions posed by a congressional committee. President Donald Trump's former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, has been interviewed as part of an investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
He was being interviewed by the House intelligence committee, which is investigating alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. He met with special counsel Robert Mueller, who leads the inquiry, over two days this week.
Mr Bannon would answer only 25 questions approved in advance by the White House, members said. Mr Bannon was chairman of Mr Trump's presidential campaign before becoming a top White House official.
The committee is reportedly considering holding him in contempt. But he left his post in August amid reports of tension with other aides.
"Steve Bannon stonewalled the intel committee today," Democratic member Joaquin Castro said in a tweet. Mr Mueller is leading an the investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the US election. Both Moscow and Mr Trump deny this.
"Sure seems like he's covering up something(s). He should be held in contempt." Investigators believe Mr Bannon may hold crucial information on the Trump administration, including details on why former FBI Director James Comey was fired by the president.
Adam Schiff, the panel's Democratic leader, called for contempt proceedings against Mr Bannon, according to Reuters news agency. Mr Comey has previously said he has "no doubt" that he was fired by Mr Trump to "change" the Russia investigation, a charge the White House denies.
It is not clear what Mr Bannon was questioned about, but he is reported to have spent around 20 hours speaking with Mr Mueller's team.
A source close to the process though told the Associated Press that Mr Bannon answered every question put to him.
This inquiry is running alongside four similar ones being conducted by politicians in Congress, and Mr Bannon spoke to one of them on Thursday.
He appeared in front of the House intelligence committee as part of their own, separate, investigation into possible ties between the Trump campaign and Moscow.
But he frustrated the committee when he refused to answer their questions, opting instead to answer 25 pre-written questions that had been approved by the White House.
It led top Democrats to call for contempt proceedings against Mr Bannon.
"There was a refusal to answer any questions that would have brought out the full facts. That is not how privilege works. That's how stonewalling works," the panel's Democratic leader Adam Schiff said.
In a tweet, Democratic member Joaquin Castro also accused Mr Bannon of stonewalling.
Republican Representative Mike Conaway said members of the panel were unhappy with Mr Bannon's responses.Republican Representative Mike Conaway said members of the panel were unhappy with Mr Bannon's responses.
"He did not answer all the questions we'd like answered, so there was frustration among committee members with respect to that," said Mr Conaway. "He did not answer all the questions we'd like answered, so there was frustration among committee members with respect to that," he said.
The hearing was a closed-door session, so full details have not yet emerged - instead being revealed by senior journalists with sources on the committee. It is not the first time Mr Bannon has been criticised by the panel.
CNN senior congressional correspondent Manu Raju tweeted that Mr Bannon had been advised by President Trump to invoke executive privilege, a prerogative allowing him to withhold information. He voluntarily met with the same committee in January and refused to answer their questions over a 10-hour period.
Mr Bannon - who was forced out of the White House in August - appeared following a subpoena from the House Intelligence Committee.
He voluntarily met with the same committee in January but refused to answer any questions over a 10-hour period.
The committee then issued a subpoena compelling him to return for a second time.The committee then issued a subpoena compelling him to return for a second time.
According to the New York Times, he has also been subpoenaed by former FBI director Robert Mueller, the Justice Department special counsel who is leading a parallel inquiry into alleged collusion with Russia during the 2016 election campaign. But Mr Bannon was reportedly advised by President Trump to invoke executive privilege, a prerogative allowing him to withhold information.
Mr Bannon is reportedly the first of Mr Trump's inner circle to be summoned to testify before a grand jury.