Steve Bannon Steve Bannon refuses lawmakers' questions under 'White House instructions' Bannon’s lawyer reputedly said former strategist, facing subpoena, would otherwise have been willing to respond Play Video 0:37 Adam Schiff condemns White House 'gag order' on Steve Bannon – videoSteve Bannon refused to answer questions from the House Intelligence Committee during a closed-door session on Tuesday, even after he was issued a subpoena to testify by the committee, saying that the White House had told him not to. Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said during a news conference after the marathon hearing, that Bannon’s lawyer had told the committee that the former White House aide “was willing to answer our questions but under instructions from the White House not to”. Schiff condemned what he called “a gag order from the White House”. “As with all congressional inquiries touching upon the White House,” she told reporters, “Congress must consult with the White House prior to obtaining confidential material. Bannon’s willingness to abide by White House instructions comes after Trump denounced him as “Sloppy Steve” for the comments he made in Wolff’s book.

Source: The Guardian January 17, 2018 01:53 UTC