The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee said Wednesday former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and ex-Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski may face subpoenas if they continue to stonewall the panel's Russia probe questions.
In a statement, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said Bannon's lawyers have told the intel panel the White House won't allow him to answer questions stemming from his time on Trump's transition team — or about his work during and after his time in the administration.
"[T]he White House has limited his testimony to a set of 14 yes-or-no questions they pre-approved," Schiff said, the Washington Examiner reported.
"At no point has the president invoked executive privilege."
Bannon — who's also been subpoenaed as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation Russia probe, and is expected to interview with him next week — was supposed to appear before the committee Tuesday after failing to answer lawmakers' questions behind closed doors last month, the Examiner noted.
During that testimony, he was subpoenaed mid-hearing for his refusal to answer questions and said he would return.
Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., told reporters Tuesday the deadline for Bannon to comply with the subpoena had been extended a week. But on Wednesday, Schiff indicated Bannon could be held in contempt, the Examiner reported.
Lewandowski could also be subpoenaed after his counsel told the House intel panel he will not reappear to testify any further "despite an earlier pledge to do so."
"Neither Bannon nor Lewandowski have articulated legitimate grounds for refusing to appear and answer questions before Congress, and we fully expect them to return," Schiff said in his statement, the Examiner reported.
"It will therefore be necessary for our committee to enforce the subpoena on Bannon, and now move to compel Lewandowski's testimony, among other outstanding steps needed to advance the investigation."
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