Good evening.

The first trial, the first person charged with defying the subpoena to appear before

the House January 6th Committee is now fully underway.

We're not just talking about any person.

This is Steve Bennett, one time Time Magazine coverboy who was in, then out of the former

President's Administration and good graces, and whose name has come up again and again

in the January 6th Committee hearings.

In opening statements today, federal prosecutors argue that the now right-winged podcaster

put himself above the law.

The defense suggesting that two contempt of Congress charges against him were politically

motivated.

Forceedings began today, after the judge in the case, Carl Nichols, who's at Trump

appointee, denied a defense request for a month-long delay.

He'll recall the last week he rejected a number of defenses, including Bennett's claim

of executive privilege, leading one ban and defense attorney to ask, and these are

his words, quote, what's the point of going to trial if there are no defenses?

To which the judge replied, agreed.

Now remember, the same Steve Bennett, who promised, as he made his first court appearance, to

make this quote, a misdemeanor from hell.

It's the same Steve Bennett, who even as he recently offered to appear live before the

select committee, expressed contempt for its members and continued his tough guy routine

trying to set conditions for his testimony.

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