Lawmakers say Bannon kept quiet in Russia probe

WASHINGTON—Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon met with the House Intelligence Committee for its ongoing Russia inquiry Tuesday, but he answered few questions, according to lawmakers at the meeting. Bannon and his attorneys met with the panel for more than 10 hours behind closed doors. The panel subpoenaed him to testify, but the former confidant of the president refused to answer some questions, citing a request from the White House not to speak about his time in the administration. “This was effectively a gag order by the White House,” said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the panel, after the meeting. Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, who is leading the investigation, told reporters the subpoena on Bannon is still in effect and he expects to get more answers out of him in the future. It appears Bannon might have to face more questions anyway. Separately, The New York Times reported Tuesday, special counsel Robert Mueller subpoenaed Bannon to testify before a grand jury for his Russia investigation. Mueller’s team has charged several Trump associates with crimes since the investigation began last year into possible Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Those charged include former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn.