Bannon to plead not guilty to contempt of Congress charges

Former top Trump adviser Steve Bannon filed a motion on Wednesday to plead not guilty to contempt of Congress charges and waived his right to an arraignment. Bannon was indicted last week by a grand jury on two counts of contempt of Congress after he did not appear for a scheduled deposition before the House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

In the filing, Bannon said he "freely and voluntarily" waives his "right to an arraignment on the indictment and my right to have it read to me in open court."

Bannon's court appearance had been scheduled for Thursday morning before U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, who will oversee his case and any potential trial. Bannon turned himself in on Monday and livestreamed himself for supporters outside the courthouse. He told supporters to "stand up against the Biden regime" and warned his followers not to "focus on the noise."