U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today voted in favor of H.Res. 730, a House resolution finding Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the January 6 commission. The resolution opens the door for the Department of Justice to pursue criminal charges against Bannon. Shortly before the vote, Pascrell spoke on the floor in favor of accountability.

“The gravest attack ever on US democracy came 288 days ago. It was born of Big Lies. Steve Bannon spread those poisonous lies. And Bannon was guided by Donald Trump,” said Rep. Pascrell. “We must pursue the truth. We go only where the facts take us. Refusing a subpoena is obstructing justice. Anyone who obstructs Congress and covers up insurrection should be thrown into jail.  This is a vote of conscience. Do you agree with the rioting terrorists, or our democracy? Are we a country of laws, or a country of men? We must hold all involved accountable. If we fail we will no longer be a democracy.”

Rep. Pascrell has been outspoken in demanding accountability for the Capitol terror riot and Republican attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. On December 11, 2020, Pascrell urged House leadership to “refuse to seat in the 117th Congress any Members-elect seeking to make Donald Trump an unelected dictator.”

A recording of Rep. Pascrell’s floor speech is available here.