Bannon gives closed-door testimony to House Intel panel

Former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon on Tuesday morning went behind closed doors with the House Intelligence Committee to testify in the panel’s ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the presidential election.

Bannon, who joined the Trump campaign in August of 2016, is expected to face a grilling on comments he made to Michael Wolff, the author of a controversial new book about the Trump White House.

Bannon told Wolff that a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower between campaign officials and a Russian lawyer believed to have political dirt on Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonTrump tweets video montage of people saying he couldn't win presidency Baseless attacks on Robert Mueller must end to protect our democracy Ex-NATO commander: Trump right to demand NATO members pay more for defense MORE was “treasonous.”

"The three senior guys in the campaign thought it was a good idea to meet with a foreign government inside Trump Tower in the conference room on the 25th floor—with no lawyers," Bannon said, according to Wolff’s account. “Even if you thought that this was not treasonous, or unpatriotic ... you should have called the FBI immediately.”

Further, Bannon added, “the chance that [Donald Trump Jr.Donald (Don) John TrumpMan arrested after allegedly threatening to kill Trump supporters, GOP lawmaker Donald Trump Jr. called to check on GOP campaign volunteer after reported threats Man accused of stealing pro-Trump teen's MAGA hat arrested MORE] did not walk these jumos up to his father's office on the twenty-sixth floor is zero.”

Lawmakers will press Bannon on what the president knew about that meeting, long a flashpoint in the controversy surrounding the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia, as well as any financial crimes that may have been committed.

“Specifically what's the basis for his assertion that the president met with the participants in the Trump Tower meeting,” the committee’s top Democrat, Adam SchiffAdam Bennett SchiffStrzok's lawyer accuses GOP of mischaracterizing his testimony Overnight Defense: Defense spending bill amendments target hot-button issues | Space Force already facing hurdles | Senators voice 'deep' concerns at using military lawyers on immigration cases Rubio heckled by protestors outside immigration detention facility MORE (Calif.), told ABC News's Pierre Thomas. “What [Bannon] knows about the president’s knowledge of that meeting, as well as his concerns over money laundering which has been a persistent concern of ours as well.”

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul ManafortPaul John ManafortTrump declares that public opinion has 'turned strongly against' Mueller Ex-GOP majority leader: Republicans must protect Mueller Manafort requests his trial be moved, argues Northern Virginia is too liberal MORE and his deputy, Richard Gates, have both been charged with money laundering as part of special counsel Robert MuellerRobert Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russia probe MORE’s federal investigation into potential campaign collusion with Russia.

There is no public indication that Bannon is under investigation by Mueller.

The committee’s interest in Bannon predates the release of Wolff’s book. He will also likely face questions about his knowledge of any contacts that Trump transition team members may have had with Russian officials, according to Schiff.

Blackwater founder Erik Prince in December detailed to investigators a January meeting he held with a Russian banker in the Seychelles, brokered by the UAE.

Prince, who described his relationship to the Trump campaign as minimal and unofficial, acknowledged that Bannon had told him about a separate December 2016 meeting between the Trump transition team and UAE officials.

But Prince, whose sister is Education Secretary Betsy DeVosElizabeth (Betsy) Dee DeVosWarren: Trump should have fired Pruitt ‘28 scandals ago’ Sessions announces reversal of Obama-era guidelines promoting diversity in college admissions Ex-DOJ civil rights chief: Sessions and DeVos are pushing a 'hostile' vision for students of color MORE, said he could not remember whether the conversation with Bannon took place before or after his trip to the Seychelles — an answer that left committee Democrats dissatisfied.

“We know from the Erik Prince testimony … that [Prince] had a meeting with Steve BannonStephen (Steve) Kevin BannonBookstore owner calls police after customer confronted Steve Bannon Trump’s plan to drown government must be stopped Krystal Ball: 'The problem is not ICE' MORE before he made that trip to the Seychelles traveling halfway around the world to have what he described essentially as a coincidental meeting with a Russian in a bar,” Schiff told ABC News.

“Which just happened to be a head of one of the Russian Investment Banks, so we'd like to know whether Steve Bannon was involved in establishing any kind of a back channel of with the Russians.”

Prince described the arrangement of his meeting with Kirill Dmitriev as informal, telling investigators that the real purpose of his trip was to meet with Emirati officials to discuss terrorism in the area and “conceptual-only stuff” on mineral-related business.

“It was a matter of, ‘Hey, while you’re here, there’s a Russian guy that we’ve done some business with in the past, and it’d be interesting for you to meet him,’” Prince told investigators.

Bannon is not the only Trump campaign associate expected to interview before the committee this week. Former campaign manager Corey LewandowskiCorey R. LewandowskiLewandowski: Pelosi is not the leader of the Democratic Party Lewandowski calls lack of comprehensive immigration plan 'a shame' Lewandowski: Democrats could do 'fairly well' in midterms MORE is also expected to appear.

The Bannon interview was scheduled to begin at 9:30 on Tuesday morning.