Jan. 6 committee holding two hearings; unclear whether Bannon will testify

The Democrat-led Jan. 6 committee is to resume hearings this week on Tuesday and Thursday. 

Tuesday’s hearing is expected to focus on the role of extremist groups leading up to and during the Jan. 6, 2021, capitol riot. 

"We are going to be connecting the dots during these hearings between these groups and those who were trying – in government circles – to overturn the election," committee member Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat on the committee, told CNN.

The committee hopes to demonstrate a clear link between the Trump administration and such groups, particularly the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys. 

Jason Van Tatenhove, a former spokesman for the Proud Boys, is one of the people that is expected to testify. He claims to have knowledge of the inner workings of the organization. 

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon has also notified the Jan. 6 committee that he is willing to testify after formr President Trump waived executive privilege. Bannon had previously refused to comply with committee subpoenas and was last year charged with two counts of contempt of congress. 

“President Trump has decided that it would be in the best interests of the American people to waive executive privilege for Stephen K. Bannon, to allow Mr. Bannon to comply with the subpoena issued by your Committee," Bannon’s attorney Robert Costello said in a letter to the committee. 

The committee has not yet publicly scheduled Bannon's testimony. 

Justice Department lawyers litigating Bannon’s contempt of Congress charges are skeptical of his motives.

"His continued failure to comply with the subpoena's document demand while claiming he now will testify suggests his actions are little more than an attempt to change the optics of his contempt," department lawyers in a court filing. 

Bannon had previously argued that he did not have to comply with subpoenas following Trump invoking executive privilege, but federal prosecutors say that because Bannon was a private citizen at the time of the capitol riot, privilege did not apply.