February 8, 2021--The Canary

Steve Bannon may have been pardoned by Trump but that pardon covers only federal crimes. Thus, if there are reasons to indict and try him at the state level, those trials could proceed.

In Bannon's case, if he were indicted by or called as a witness in, say, New York, he could not claim that he has a blanket pardon that protects him from jeopardy. In addition he would not be allowed to hide behind the 5th Amendment.

Thus, for example, if the former president were indicted in New York, depending on the charges, Bannon could be required to testify against him.

It appears that Trump's former chief strategist is close to being prosecuted by Cy Vance, the New York City district attorney. 

Bannon is under investigation for a fund-raising scheme that allegedly defrauded people who donated significant money toward the building of Trump's border wall.

There's that pesty wall again.

It may come down to two choices for Bannon--Cop a plea. Make a deal with the DA in which he agrees to plead guilty and testifies against Trump in a negotiated arrangement that keeps him from having to spend a minimum of months behind bars. 

Or, Bannon takes his chances with a jury and goes on trial with the outcome for him uncertain.

This seems like an easy call to me.

And so if you hear Bannon practicing his scales, you'll know it's because he is about to be turned into a canary.