Steve Bannon indicted by federal grand jury over US Capitol riots investigation

Steve Bannon, a longtime ally to former President Donald Trump, has been indicted on two counts of contempt of Congress.

It comes after he defied a subpoena from the House Select Committee, ordering him to attend the investigation into the January 6 riot at the US Capitol.

The panel is gathering information about the origins of the attack and what former Donald Trump did — or didn’t do — to stop it.

The Justice Department said the 67-year-old was indicted on one count for refusing to appear for a deposition and the other for refusing to provide documents in response to the committee’s subpoena. It wasn’t immediately clear when he would be due in court.

Mr Bannon’s attorney did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

The committee has so far subpoenaed almost 30 people, including former White House staffers, Trump allies who strategised about how to overturn his defeat and people who organised the giant rally on the National Mall the morning of January 6.

Mr Bannon, who was White House chief strategist under Donald Trump, was pardoned by his former boss in January after being charged with duping thousands of investors out of money.

Mr Bannon had been accused of fraud over the crowdfunding campaign that raised more than $25 million (£19m) to build a US-Mexico border wall.