Steve Bannon subpoenas Speaker Pelosi, House Jan. 6 committee members 

Steve Bannon has subpoenaed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the nine members of the select committee investigating the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol as he prepares to go on criminal trial next month for defying a congressional subpoena.

Bannon, who was Trump’s chief strategist, faces two charges of contempt of Congress for refusing to testify or produce documents.

Bannon’s lawyers questioned whether Pelosi and Democrats followed the House’s own rules in the formation and make-up of a bipartisan committee. A resolution that created the committee states it “shall” have 13 members. This committee has nine member, seven Democrats and two Republicans, all of whom were selected by Pelosi.

Getting a judge or court to enforce subpoenas against sitting members of Congress is a difficult task, legal experts have said. But the argument that Pelosi didn’t follow the House rules might make it even messier.

Danya Perry, who is a former deputy attorney general for New York did say that some minor exceptions could be argued, involving marketing material for books by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA).

David Schoen, one of Bannon’s attorneys, said in a phone conversation that it would be a “terrible irony” if the committee tries to quash Bannon’s subpoenas, adding the documents his client is seeking belong to the American people.

David Schoen, who Is an attorney for Bannon, told Axios that Raskin and Schiff “have a vested interest now, whether financial or reputational or personal, in ensuring that the committee’s conclusions are consistent with their books. We can’t have that kind of committee.”