Bannon indictment shakes loose testimony from low-ranking Trump allies -- but inner circle remains defiant

The indictment of Steve Bannon hasn't broken the logjam of other Donald Trump advisers who are disobeying congressional subpoenas.

Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Trump social media manager Dan Scavino still haven't turned over documents or testimony ordered by the House select committee, despite threats of the same criminal contempt charges Bannon faces, and one investigator isn't hopeful that will change anytime soon, reported Politico.

"I think if it wasn't the [Trump] lawsuit, they would invent something else or another piece of litigation to hang their hat on," said Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-A). "So we don't put a lot of stock behind it."

The panel has already conducted about 200 interviews in their investigation of the Jan. 6 insurrection, and committee member Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) has encouraged some lower-ranking Trump allies to cooperate, even if his inner circle remains defiant.

"I think it's certainly had an impact on people's willingness to cooperate, on people's willingness to follow the law," Schiff said. "Certainly there are others who, I think, have been encouraged to cooperate by seeing the path of obstruction may lead to jail."

The committee issued another round of subpoenas Monday to five more Trump allies: InfoWars conspiracy monger Alex Jones, longtime adviser Roger Stone, rally promoters Jennifer Lawrence and Dustin Stockton, and current Trump spokesperson Taylor Budowich.

"The Select Committee is seeking information about the rallies and subsequent march to the Capitol that escalated into a violent mob attacking the Capitol and threatening our democracy," said committee chair Bennie Thompson (D-MS) in a statement. "We need to know who organized, planned, paid for, and received funds related to those events, as well as what communications organizers had with officials in the White House and Congress."