Washington DC – The US House committee investigating the attack on the US Capitol in Washington on January 6 will take steps towards holding Steve Bannon, a former key adviser to former president Donald Trump, in criminal contempt over his refusal to comply with a subpoena.

Bannon has been subpoenaed by the committee and was due to give a deposition in person Thursday but said in advance that he would not do so now.

Trump has argued that his ex-aides are covered by presidential "executive privelege" that he himself has invoked when also refusing to submit to subpoenas and requests for information from courts and Congress.

"Mr. Bannon has declined to cooperate with the Select Committee and is instead hiding behind the former President’s insufficient, blanket, and vague statements regarding privileges he has purported to invoke. We reject his position entirely," Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson said in a statement.

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"The Select Committee will not tolerate defiance of our subpoenas, so we must move forward with proceedings to refer Mr. Bannon for criminal contempt," he added.

"I’ve notified the Select Committee that we will convene for a business meeting Tuesday evening to vote on adopting a contempt report," Thompson said.

Once adopted, a contempt report is referred to the House for a vote.

"Upon its adoption, the Speaker certifies the report to the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia ... following such certification it is the 'duty' of the United States Attorney to 'bring the matter before the grand jury for its action,'" the committee statement said.

A person liable for contempt of Congress could face a fine and up to 12 months imprisonment.