Citing media reports that concluded that Bannon’s legal team was seeking to politicize the trial, Vaughn explained that both the media and possibly jurors perceived that the defense wanted to argue that there was a politically motivated prosecution. At the end of a debate between her and Bannon’s team over the extent to which the questioning of his lawyer might suggest bias, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols declared his commitment not to allow the trial to become “a political circus, a forum for party politics”. Initially, Vaughan expressed concerns about how Bannon’s lawyers might try to ask inappropriate questions about the committee’s political motivations. He also pushed back on some questions that examined the Justice Department’s thorough investigation in a way that suggested bias. “They cannot use these principles of cross-examination to cover up their attempt to introduce policy and suggest that this is politically motivated,” Vaughan said. Prosecutors asked that the defense be asked to suggest what they plan to ask the witnesses outside of the jury’s presence. When given an opportunity to respond, Bannon’s attorney, Evan Corcoran, said cross-examination of the witness would depend on testimony produced by the DOJ’s inquiry. “The attorney seems concerned that we’re turning this into a political circus. That’s not our intention,” Corcoran said. He also argued that the first witness, Jan. 6 House committee staffer Kristin Amerling, is testifying on behalf of the committee about the actions taken by lawmakers. Judge Nichols asked him point blank: “Are you saying you’re allowed to ask the testifying witness about the bias or possible bias of anyone on the panel?” Corcoran said yes. After hearing more from Vaughn, Nichols set limits on questions about political bias: The defense can ask questions that may involve how a particular witness is biased, but not questions about how someone else was biased in action which he did outside the courtroom. Nichols also said certain questions about a witness’ particular bias may also be off limits. As for what the defense might consider in the Bannon investigation, the judge said he is holding off on making a ruling for now. “I, at least, will hold off until we’re done with Amerling, and maybe, until we’re done with the direct witness,” Nichols said. “I get the point,” he added. “I don’t intend for it to become a political affair, a political circus, a forum for partisan politics.”
title: “Steve Bannon Trial Live Updates " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-01” author: “Arthur Wagner”
Fourteen jurors – 9 men and 5 women – were sworn in in federal district court in Washington, DC, after being finalized on Tuesday. The jury includes a State Department employee, an art dealer, a NASA contractor, a doctor, an architect and a handful of DC government employees. Some of the jurors have extensive prior experience serving on juries, according to their statements in court yesterday. The jury has 14 people because two alternates are in the pool and will not be publicly revealed until deliberations. Some context: During the first part of the jury selection process Monday, potential jurors were not pressed about their general feelings about Bannon or former President Trump. They were, however, asked about their coverage of the Parliamentary inquiry into the January 6 riot and the case itself. Some said they had consumed little of the House hearings, if that. Many of the potential jurors had said they had heard little about Bannon’s case, but a large number of them had attended at least some of the select committee’s public hearings. But awareness alone wasn’t enough to throw them off the jury.
