Steve Bannon, a former adviser to former President Donald Trump, said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that there should be concern if Trump is re-elected because several former intelligence and Justice Department officials would face investigations.
DONALD TRUMP (March 4, 2023): In 2016 I declared, “I am your voice.” Today I add, “I am your warrior. I am your justice. I am retribution for the wronged and the betrayed. I am your retribution.”
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KARL: Some of those who served and opposed Trump are worried. Stephanie Grisham, who served as communications director, press secretary and chief of staff to the first lady,
Bannon: You’re not talking about those people. That’s ridiculous.
Carl: She says she’s worried she’ll be charged with treason.
Bannon: That’s so ridiculous. I’m talking about people in positions of power. For example, Esper…
Carl: Andrew McCabe
Bannon: 100%.
Carl: He says he might have to leave the country.
Bannon: I think he’s very concerned. He’s definitely going to be investigated. Comey is, Esper is, I believe Milley will be, too. People look at what happened, look at what happened…
Karl: Chairman Milley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff?
Bannon: Right, because we don’t know what conversations he had outside the military chain of command when he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, we don’t know what conversations he had with the Chinese, we don’t know what conversations he had with Nancy Pelosi. We have to look into all of that. If he hasn’t done anything, then there’s no need to worry.
KARL: Well, they’re worried because Trump and you have been talking about retaliation.
Bannon: This is not retaliation. First of all,
Carl: Those are his words, not mine. “I am your retribution.”
BANON: And when he says retaliation, as he said on the debate stage last night, his retaliation is a very successful, even more successful, second term. What we’re saying is we want justice. We want a thorough investigation. And if criminal charges are filed, criminal charges are filed.
Carl: So you promised on the show that the attorney general would go to jail.
Bannon: 100%
Karl: So we’re not just talking about the investigation. Is Bill Barr on the retaliation list?
Bannon: I think Bill Barr should be investigated, and I don’t think he should be retaliated against. You keep talking about retaliation.
Carl: Trump said retaliation, so you said retaliation.
Bannon: That’s justice, that’s justice.
KARL: So Bill Barr needs to be investigated. Bill Barr, does Bill Barr need to go to prison with Merrick Garland?
BANON: I didn’t say that. I didn’t say that. You have to see it. I’m not going to prejudge anybody. You have to see it.
Karl: Will Bill Barr end up in prison? As part of retaliation?
Bannon: It’s not retribution. It’s justice.
