DALLAS — Former White House strategist Steve Bannon, recently found guilty of contempt of Congress, addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference in Texas on Friday, telling the audience they are in “a political and ideological war” and arguing that Republicans should move to investigate their ideological enemies if they win a majority in November.
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“The politics of the present is attack, attack, attack,” he said.
A federal jury convicted Bannon last month of two counts of criminal contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Bannon claimed he did not have to comply with the subpoena, citing executive privilege, a claim disputed even by former President Donald Trump’s lawyer. He could face jail time and fines at his sentencing, which is scheduled for Oct. 21.
But Bannon was focused on November rather than October.
“We have to deliver,” Bannon said of the November elections. “There can be no half-measures anymore.”
Bannon called Biden an “illegitimate” president and echoed Trump’s unfounded claims of election fraud.
Bannon singled out MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and Kari Lake, a former news anchor who recently won the Republican gubernatorial nomination in Arizona. Both have embraced Trump’s unfounded claims of a stolen election.
“The easiest victories we’ve had are behind us,” Bannon said. “The easiest things we’ve done are behind us. They are going to come after you like they came after Kari Lake and they came after Mike Lindell if you are at the forefront of this movement.”
Bannon argued Republicans should use the investigative powers of Congress to achieve their ends, which he said would include investigating “the southern border” and Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to the White House.
“We have to fight fire with fire because, trust me, they’re playing to win and we’re not right now,” Bannon said. “We have to play to win. The country’s in the balance.”
Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, called Bannon’s remarks one of the “most amazing” CPAC speeches he has heard.
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Bannon said Trump told him, “That jail thing is making you a star.”
