Bannon rejects idea of ‘retribution’ but lists Trump foes to be investigated

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon pushed back on the idea that former President Donald Trump would seek "retribution" in a second term as president even as he listed various former officials who need to be investigated in the name of "justice."

Speaking in a recorded interview that aired Sunday on ABC's "This Week," Bannon said, "If you haven't done anything, you shouldn't worry," but also gave the names of some who might worry should Trump win in November: Former FBI acting Director Andrew McCabe, former FBI Director James Comey, former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, former Attorney General William Barr and former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley.

"It’s justice, it’s justice," Bannon insisted on the idea of investigating leading former officials, some of whom were appointed to their positions by Trump himself.

Bannon, who is due to report to prison by Monday for defying congressional subpoenas, repeatedly pushed back on the use of the word "retribution" as Karl pointed out out that Trump has used the word in that context over and over.

"It's not retribution at all. First off ...," Bannon said, before Karl interjected: "Those were his words, not my words, ‘I am your retribution.’"

Bannon replied: "And what he says by retribution, he said, like he said last night on the debate stage, his retribution is a very successful, more successful second term. What we're saying is we want justice. We want to have full investigations, and then if criminal charges come up, then criminal charges come up."

"I mean, you made a promise on your shows, you said that the Attorney General will be in prison," Karl answered, apparently referring to Bannon's discussion of Attorney General Merrick Garland.

"100%," Bannon replied.

"So you're not just talking about investigations," Karl said.

Karl also asked Bannon about his use of the term of "put the heads on pikes" in seemingly waxing nostalgic about the time centuries ago when leaders could execute their enemies.

"In this town, a thousand times a day, people go, 'We got to put the heads on pike. We have to put his head on a pike.' It was a metaphor," Bannon said in criticizing Karl for even bringing up the topic.

Karl though persisted in raising issues about Bannon's language, asking if Bannon had any concerns about making use of violent terminology, particularly given the mayhem at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Bannon insisted he had done no such thing.

"Nobody could derive that we’re calling for violence," he said.