DOJ snaps back at Bannon asking to delay criminal contempt trial over January 6 hearings' publicity, says that he has 'barely been mentioned'

The Department of Justice asked a DC judge on Friday to reject the request by Steve Bannon to delay his contempt-of- Congress trial, arguing that the January 6 hearings have not focused on him to the point of distraction.

On Wednesday, Bannon's lawyers asked a DC judge to delay his July 18 trial, saying the request was due to the "unprecedented level of publicity."

DOJ lawyers said that he is not as popular as he thought.

The DOJ said that the motion gave the false impression that all of the hearings were about him. The truth is that the defendants have barely been mentioned in the hearings or the media coverage of them.

After refusing to comply with a subpoena from the January 6 committee, he was indicted by a federal grand jury. If there is no delay, his trial could start on January 6.

He argued that the committee needed to sort out which materials would be restricted because of Trump's executive privilege.

Insider's request for comment was not immediately responded to by the attorneys.