• Steve Bannon announced he will testify before the January 6 Committee, according to reports.
  • It comes after former President Trump sent Bannon a letter saying he would waive executive privilege.
  • In November, Bannon was indicted on two counts of contempt of Congress for defying a House subpoena.

Steve Bannon, the former White House chief strategist, announced he will testify before the January 6 Committee, preferably in a live and public hearing, according to reports. 

In a letter first obtained by The Guardian, Bannon reportedly told the panel that he would testify after he received a letter from former President Donald Trump – also seen by The Guardian – that the former president won't claim executive privilege.

Trump had invoked executive privilege when Bannon was first subpoenaed by the House committee in September 2021, according to The Washington Post. 

"When you first received the Subpoena to testify and provide documents, I invoked Executive Privilege. However, I watched how unfairly you and others have been treated, having to spend vast amounts of money on legal fees, and all of the trauma you must be going through for the love of your Country, and out of respect for the Office of the President," Trump wrote, per the Guardian. 

"Therefore, if you reach an agreement on a time and place for your testimony, I will waive Executive Privilege for you, which allows you to go in and testify truthfully and fairly," Trump added, referring to the January 6 panel as the "Unselect Committee of political Thugs and Hacks."

In November, Bannon was indicted on two counts of contempt of Congress for defying the House subpoena. He pleaded not guilty, claiming issues surrounding Trump's executive privilege on January 6 matters had to be settled before he would initiate communication with the panel. His trial is scheduled to begin on July 18.

It is not immediately clear how the letter from Trump will impact Bannon's contempt of Congress case, Insider's John Dorman previously reported. 

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Read the original article on Business Insider