D-Day For Bannon. Friday? Monday?

I must admit that this has gone a little more quickly than I thought it would. It was 1PM Eastern time today when MSNBC broke the news that the judge and lawyers in the Bannon case had settled on a panel of 12 jurors and 2 alternates.

I had taken for granted that for continuity’s sake, The judge would adjourn court for the day, and begin opening arguments in the morning. But apparently this judge wants Two Shirts out of his courtroom most riki-tik, so he can have it fumigated and sanitized. They took a break, and the prosecution presented its opening argument.

This is likely to be one of the shortest criminal trial since their last purse snatching case. The prosecution has already said that it only plans to need one day to present their case in chief. And why would it take any more than that?

The case is ridiculously simple for any prosecution to prove. All they have to show is that the J6 Committee served Bannon with a legal subpoena to turn over documents, and appear before the committee, and that Bannon refused to comply. That’s it! Criminal contempt of congress. That shouldn’t take more than a day.

Here’s another reason. The federal judge in this case has shown almost absolute disdain for both Bannon, as well has his lawyer’s nonsense in his court. He has refused multiple nonsensical requests to delay the trial, barred Bannon from arguing in his defense that the committee was illegitimate, prohibited him from arguing Executive Immunity, and even barred Bannon from arguing that he couldn’t be guilty because he Followed advice from his counsel. The judge’s basic reply, Get a better lawyer, chump.

It is almost universally agreed, including me, that Bannon’s ego will not allow him to miss the opportunity to take the stand and testify on front of world media coverage in the courtroom. The problem is, What does he testify to? The judge has already cut him off at the knees in pretrial rulings. And if Bannon thinks this judge is going to let him ramble on from the stand, then he needs an intervention.

When they get their chance, the Assistant US Attorney’s cross examination of Bannon will be one of the shortest on record. Mr Bannon, did you receive a lawfully issued subpoena to turn over documents, and appear in front of the January 6th committee? The only possible answer is yes. And Mr Bannon, did you, for whatever personal reasons, decide to ignore that lawful subpoena? again, the only answer is yes. I have no further questions for this witness, Your Honor.

The one pity is that federal courts do not allow cameras in the courtroom, so when the jury convicts Bannon, we won’t be able to see US Marshals put the bracelets on him, and perp walk him from court. And perp walk him they will. If Bannon thinks that this judge is going to let him roam free on appeal, he’s delusional. The one bright star is that the media are experts at finding cubby holes and hallways to hide in, so like Allen Weisselberg being filmed in a perp walk on his way into federal court, we should have some footage of Bannon being marched off to durance vile. And I believe it takes an average of 6-7 weeks from conviction to formal sentencing.

I figure it like this. The prosecution lays out their case tomorrow. There is no information as to what, if any other witnesses the defense plans to call on Thursday. But this judge is brooking no bullshit. Figure the closing arguments are on Friday morning. As clear cut as this case is, the jury could be back by late Friday afternoon. No later than Monday.

I don’t see any way that this ends without Steve Bannon getting perp walked out of court. And as simple as the case is, and as no nonsense as this judge is, I can’t see it going beyond Monday. Good times coming.